Abstract
Given a certain severity of crash and injury, it is unclear whether acute and/or chronic alcohol use causes increased morbidity, mortality or a more complicated hospital course after motor vehicle collisions. In this study, 496 patients admitted to a trauma service were retrospectively evaluated to assess the effects of acute alcohol ingestion and chronic alcohol use on outcome. Results suggest that patients with acute or chronic alcohol abuse have increased needs for nursing services in the hospital. Alcohol use did not play a role in modifying other outcome measures. (A)