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VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 1 ( January-April, 2017 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Alcoholic Beverage and Traffic Accidents: Impact of the Drunk-Driving Law in Severity and Mortality of Victims

Lilia de S Nogueira, Cristiane de A Domingues, Ane KS Bonfim

Citation Information : de S Nogueira L, de A Domingues C, Bonfim AK. Alcoholic Beverage and Traffic Accidents: Impact of the Drunk-Driving Law in Severity and Mortality of Victims. Panam J Trauma Crit Care Emerg Surg 2017; 6 (1):17-24.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10030-1167

License: CC BY 3.0

Published Online: 01-07-2014

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2017; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objectives

To analyze the impact of the Drunk-Driving Law on the characteristics and severity of traffic accident victims and to identify risk factors for mortality before and after law enforcement.

Materials and methods

A retrospective, quantitative study that analyzed victims of traffic accidents attended at a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, between 2006 and 2010, through the analysis of medical records. The Drunk-Driving Law was considered the time frame of this research, and the victims were distributed in two groups: Before the law (January 2006 to June 2008) and after the law (July 2008 to December 2010). Pearson chi-square, Mann–Whitney, and multiple logistic regression tests were used, with a significance level of 5%.

Results

The sample consisted of 1,405 victims, the majority being males (78.01%), with a mean age of 37.39 years. In the group comparison (before and after the Drunk-Driving Law), there was a significant difference related to the external cause, admission to the ICU, and discharge conditions. Factors associated with prelaw mortality were age, number of injured body regions, and New Injury Severity Score. The length of hospital stay and the Revised Trauma Score were considered as protective factors for this outcome. After the validity of the law, in addition to the variables described earlier, the head/neck and abdomen regions most severely injured were added as risk factors for mortality.

Conclusion

The impact of the Drunk-Driving Law set a positive outcome in the survival of the victims. However, when it comes to the statistics and severity of the trauma, it is necessary to sustain the law with reinforcement of the inspection so that more lives are saved.

Clinical significance

The results of this study provide support to managers on the importance of sustaining the law and the need of implementing new trauma prevention strategies.

How to cite this article

Bonfim AKS, Nogueira LS, Domingues CA. Alcoholic Beverage and Traffic Accidents: Impact of the Drunk-Driving Law in Severity and Mortality of Victims. Panam J Trauma Crit Care Emerg Surg 2017;6(1):17-24.

Objetivo

analisar o impacto da “Lei Seca” nas características e gravidade das vítimas de acidentes de trânsito e identificar os fatores de risco para mortalidade antes e após a implantação da lei.

Materiais e Métodos

estudo retrospectivo, quantitativo que analisou vítimas de acidentes de trânsito atendidas em um hospital em São Paulo, Brasil, entre 2006 e 2010, por meio da análise de prontuários. A "Lei Seca” foi considerada marco temporal desta pesquisa, sendo que as vítimas foram distribuídas em dois grupos: antes (janeiro/2006 a junho/2008) e depois da lei (julho/2008 a dezembro/2010). Os testes Qui-Quadrado de Pearson, Mann-Whitney e a regressão logística múltipla foram utilizados, com nível de significância de 5%.

Resultados

A casuística foi composta por 1.405 vítimas, a maioria do sexo masculino (78,01%), com idade média de 37,39 anos. Na comparação dos grupos (antes e após a Lei Seca), houve diferença significativa em relação à causa externa, admissão na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva e condição de saída hospitalar. Os fatores associados à mortalidade antes da lei foram idade, número de regiões corpóreas acometidas e New Injury Severity Score. O tempo de permanência hospitalar e o escore do Revised Trauma Score foram considerados fatores de proteção para este desfecho. Após a vigência da lei, além das variáveis descritas anteriormente, foram acrescidas as regiões cabeça/pescoço e abdome mais gravemente acometidas como fatores de risco para mortalidade.

Conclusões

O impacto da “Lei Seca” configurou saldo positivo na sobrevida das vítimas, mas frente às estatísticas e gravidade do trauma, faz-se necessário a continuidade da lei com fortalecimento da fiscalização quanto ao seu cumprimento para que mais vidas sejam salvas.

Contribuição Clínica

Os resultados deste estudo oferecem subsídios aos gestores sobre a importância da continuidade da lei e da necessidade de implantação de novas estratégias de prevenção do trauma.


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