Acute alcohol use among patients with acute hip fractures: A descriptive incidence study in southeastern finland

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 gamma-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.