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Alcohol is associated with a lower pneumonia rate after traumatic brain injury.
J Surg Res. 2012 Apr; 173(2):212-5.JS

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence supports the beneficial effect of alcohol on patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Pneumonia is a known complication following TBI; thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of alcohol on pneumonia rates following moderate to severe TBI.

METHODS

From 2005 to 2009, the Los Angeles County Trauma Database was queried for all patients ≥ 14 y of age with isolated moderate to severe TBI and admission serum alcohol levels. The incidence of pneumonia was compared between TBI patients with and without a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level. The study population was then stratified into four BAC levels: None (0 mg/dL), low (0-100 mg/dL), moderate (100-230 mg/dL), and high (≥ 230 mg/dL). Pneumonia rates were compared across these levels.

RESULTS

A total of 3547 patients with isolated, moderate to severe TBI were evaluated. Nearly 66% tested positive for alcohol. The pneumonia rate was significantly lower in the TBI patients who tested positive for alcohol (2.5%) compared with those who tested negative (4.0%, P = 0.017). The pneumonia rate also decreased across increasing BAC levels (linear trend P = 0.03). After logistic regression analysis, a positive ethanol (ETOH) level was associated with a reduced incidence of pneumonia (AOR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.41-0.93; P = 0.020).

CONCLUSION

A positive serum alcohol level was associated with a significantly lower pneumonia rate in isolated, moderate to severe TBI patients. This may explain the observed mortality reduction in TBI patients who test positive for alcohol. Additional research is warranted to investigate the potential therapeutic implications of this association.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Hadjibashi AA
Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
Berry C
No affiliation info available
Ley EJ
No affiliation info available
Bukur M
No affiliation info available
Mirocha J
No affiliation info available
Stolpner D
No affiliation info available
Salim A
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAlcohol DrinkingBrain InjuriesCentral Nervous System DepressantsEthanolFemaleHumansImmunomodulationMaleMiddle AgedPneumoniaRetrospective Studies

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

21737096

Citation

Hadjibashi, Anoushiravan Amini, et al. "Alcohol Is Associated With a Lower Pneumonia Rate After Traumatic Brain Injury." The Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 173, no. 2, 2012, pp. 212-5.
Hadjibashi AA, Berry C, Ley EJ, et al. Alcohol is associated with a lower pneumonia rate after traumatic brain injury. J Surg Res. 2012;173(2):212-5.
Hadjibashi, A. A., Berry, C., Ley, E. J., Bukur, M., Mirocha, J., Stolpner, D., & Salim, A. (2012). Alcohol is associated with a lower pneumonia rate after traumatic brain injury. The Journal of Surgical Research, 173(2), 212-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2011.05.029
Hadjibashi AA, et al. Alcohol Is Associated With a Lower Pneumonia Rate After Traumatic Brain Injury. J Surg Res. 2012;173(2):212-5. PubMed PMID: 21737096.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Alcohol is associated with a lower pneumonia rate after traumatic brain injury. AU - Hadjibashi,Anoushiravan Amini, AU - Berry,Cherisse, AU - Ley,Eric J, AU - Bukur,Marko, AU - Mirocha,James, AU - Stolpner,Dennis, AU - Salim,Ali, Y1 - 2011/06/15/ PY - 2011/01/08/received PY - 2011/04/25/revised PY - 2011/05/19/accepted PY - 2011/7/9/entrez PY - 2011/7/9/pubmed PY - 2012/4/28/medline SP - 212 EP - 5 JF - The Journal of surgical research JO - J Surg Res VL - 173 IS - 2 N2 - BACKGROUND: Recent evidence supports the beneficial effect of alcohol on patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Pneumonia is a known complication following TBI; thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of alcohol on pneumonia rates following moderate to severe TBI. METHODS: From 2005 to 2009, the Los Angeles County Trauma Database was queried for all patients ≥ 14 y of age with isolated moderate to severe TBI and admission serum alcohol levels. The incidence of pneumonia was compared between TBI patients with and without a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level. The study population was then stratified into four BAC levels: None (0 mg/dL), low (0-100 mg/dL), moderate (100-230 mg/dL), and high (≥ 230 mg/dL). Pneumonia rates were compared across these levels. RESULTS: A total of 3547 patients with isolated, moderate to severe TBI were evaluated. Nearly 66% tested positive for alcohol. The pneumonia rate was significantly lower in the TBI patients who tested positive for alcohol (2.5%) compared with those who tested negative (4.0%, P = 0.017). The pneumonia rate also decreased across increasing BAC levels (linear trend P = 0.03). After logistic regression analysis, a positive ethanol (ETOH) level was associated with a reduced incidence of pneumonia (AOR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.41-0.93; P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: A positive serum alcohol level was associated with a significantly lower pneumonia rate in isolated, moderate to severe TBI patients. This may explain the observed mortality reduction in TBI patients who test positive for alcohol. Additional research is warranted to investigate the potential therapeutic implications of this association. SN - 1095-8673 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21737096/Alcohol_is_associated_with_a_lower_pneumonia_rate_after_traumatic_brain_injury_ L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-4804(11)00495-1 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -