Alcohol Consumption in Victims of Violence: A Trend Study for the Period 1970–1998

This 29-yr. retrospective study is about alcohol consumption by victims of violence intentionally injured (N = 13,048) and general patients unintentionally injured (N = 296,544) who were treated for their injuries at the Trauma Center of the University Hospital Groningen (The Netherlands) during the period 1970–1998 The incidence rate for general patients with alcohol consumption was statistically significantly greater than the incidence rate of victims of violence with alcohol consumption. A long-term significant linear trend was observed for both types of patients during the 29-yr. period. However, the increase in incidence rate among the general patients with alcohol consumption was four times greater than the increase in incidence rate for the victims of violence with alcohol consumption. Makes predominated in both types of patients (with and without alcohol consumption). The statistically significant highest incidence rates (and male predominance) were found in the age group 20–24 years for both categories of patients.