Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on March 1, 2006
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2006 41(3):345-348; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agh259
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ACUTE ALCOHOL USE AMONG PATIENTS WITH ACUTE HIP FRACTURES: A DESCRIPTIVE INCIDENCE STUDY IN SOUTHEASTERN FINLAND
1 Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland, 2 Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, 3 Health Centre of Kouvola Region, Kouvola, Finland, 4 Kuusankoski Regional Hospital, Kuusankoski, Finland and 5 National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Tel.: 358-44-7195146; Fax: 358-3-8192945; E-mail: juha-pekka.kaukonen{at}phks.fi
(Received 9 June 2005; first review notified 31 July 2005; in revised form 9 December 2005; accepted 10 December 2005)
Aim: To assess the very recent use of alcohol among patients admitted to two Finnish hospitals due to an acute hip fracture. Method: Very recent use of alcohol was recorded according to the patient's or the relatives' report. Ethanol was measured in blood samples taken at admission. Serum 
-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and vitamin D concentration were measured. Reported use of medication, vitamin D, and/or calcium supplementation was recorded. Results: Complete data were obtained on 222 of 375 eligible patients; 71% of those enrolled were women. The mean age of women was 80.5 years (SD 10) and of men 73 years (SD 12) (P < 0.001). The fracture type was femoral neck in 50%, trochanteric in 41%, and subtrochanteric in 9%. The use of alcohol within 24 h before the accident leading to hip fracture was reported by 21.5% of men and 7% of women; positive serum alcohol levels were noted in 17% (19% of men and 16% of women) and 2.2% had a level of >1.0 mg/l. Recent alcohol use was more common among patients in the age group of 65–74 years than among older patients (P < 0.001). The use of alcohol was associated strongly with tobacco use (P = 0.00012) but had no association with vitamin D levels. Alcohol users used less medication than non-users (P < 0.01). Women seemed to conceal their use of alcohol more than men (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Alcohol consumption was common among patients with an acute hip fracture, being more common in younger than in older patients. Use of alcohol in the 24 h prior to the injury was reported by 21.5% of men and 7% of women. Alcohol concentration in blood was positive in 19% of men and 16% of women.