Frequency of alcohol-associated injury in adults presenting to a Ghanaian emergency department

10 www.thelancet.com/lancetgh Published Online April 8, 2016 Department of Emergency Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana (P Kobina Forson, G Oduro, J Bonney, E A Biney, C Oppong, E Momade); University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA (A Gardner); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA (R F Maio); University of Michigan Injury Center, Ann Arbor, MI (R F Maio) Correspondence to: Andrew Gardner, Medical School, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800, USA agardn@umich.edu Frequency of alcohol-associated injury in adults presenting to a Ghanaian emergency department Paa Kobina Forson, Andrew Gardner, George Oduro, Joseph Bonney, Eno Akua Biney, Chris Oppong, Eszter Momade, Ronald F Maio Abstract Background Injuries are the cause of almost 6 million deaths every year, with 15–20% of these associated with alcohol use. However, the frequency of alcohol-associated injury varies widely between countries, but is unknown in Ghana. In this cross-sectional chart review, we aimed to measure the frequency of alcohol-associated injury in adults who presented to an emergency department in Kumasi, Ghana.Background Injuries are the cause of almost 6 million deaths every year, with 15–20% of these associated with alcohol use. However, the frequency of alcohol-associated injury varies widely between countries, but is unknown in Ghana. In this cross-sectional chart review, we aimed to measure the frequency of alcohol-associated injury in adults who presented to an emergency department in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods We reviewed the records of consecutive injured patients 18 years or older who presented to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) emergency department for care within 8 h of injury. We excluded patients who had blood in their mouth that interfered with alcohol testing, minor injuries that resulted in referral to a separate outpatient clinic, and patients who died before admission. We recorded alcohol test results, and patient and injury characteristics. Findings Between November, 2014, and April, 2015, 2 488 injured adults presented to the emergency department and we included 1085 (43%) in this study. Median pre-hospital time was 2 h (IQR 1–4h); Median age was 33 years (IQR 26–42 years), 756 (70%) of patients included in the study were men, and 557 (51%) were involved in road traffi c incidents. 35% (n=382) of the study population tested positive for alcohol. We noted high rates of alcohol positivity in certain sub-groups such as men (756 total; 42% positive), those aged 25–44 years (626; 40%), drivers (156; 42%), pedestrians (204; 42%), people who had been assaulted (166; 49%), the seriously injured (311; 40%); and patients who died in the emergency department (15; 53%). Interpretation The frequency of alcohol-associated injury was 35% in patients in this Ghanaian tertiary hospital emergency department. Our fi ndings support the practice of routine alcohol testing of injured patients in the KATH emergency department and have implications for health policy, emergency department based interventions, and acute care. Funding Grant R25TW009345 from US National Institutes of Health and Fogarty International Center. Copyright © Kobina Forson et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY. Declaration of interests No confl icts of interest are declared.