Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on February 16, 2008
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agn007
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Complaints About Sleep in Trauma Patients in An Emergency Department in Respect to Alcohol Use
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Dr. Tim Neumann, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité – Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte and Virchow-Klinikum, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49-30-450-631-249; Fax: +49-30-450-531-911; E-mail: tim.neumann{at}charite.de
Received 19 March 2007; first review notified 27 April 2007; in revised form 19 November 2007; accepted 20 December 2007
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Abstract |
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Among other lifestyle problems, sleeping problems have been related to alcohol use. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate complaints about sleep in trauma patients in an emergency department and its relation to alcohol use disorders (AUD). Method: In an emergency department, trauma patients (1014 females, 1680 males) were screened using a computerized questionnaire addressing AUD (AUD identification test, AUDIT), smoking, drug and medication use, and sleep (presence of difficulties in falling asleep and/or sleeping through). Age, BMI, income, employment, partner status, and "feeling fit" were additionally assessed. Results: An AUDIT score 
8 points was found in 24.2% of the males and 8.3% of the females. Complaints about sleep were reported by 28% and 34% of the patients, respectively. These complaints about sleep were more likely in males at-risk drinkers (AUDIT 8 versus 1–4 points (Adjusted odds ratio: AOR = 1.60, P = 0.001) or abstainers (AUDIT = 0 versus 1–4 points, AOR = 1.55, P = 0.029), and with increasing age (AOR = 1.01, P = 0.010), in patients not feeling "fit" (AOR = 2.15, P < 0.001), and users of pain (AOR = 2.24, P < 0.001) and sleep medication (AOR = 8.03, P < 0.001). In females, complaints about sleep were more likely with higher age (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.023), higher BMI (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.023), with not-feeling-fit (AOR = 1.87, P < 0.001) and sleep medication (AOR = 5.24, P < 0.001), and less likely in patients with a higher education (AOR = 0.57, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Complaints about sleep were reported frequently by trauma patients. There was an association between AUDs and sleep complaints (mainly problems about sleeping through) in males, but not in females.