Intoxicated motor vehicle passengers: an overlooked at-risk population.

HYPOTHESES: Intoxicated motor vehicle passengers are similar to intoxicated drivers in recurrent health care encounters and risk of death for 5 years after injury. Intoxicated passengers have a greater risk of death than population controls.

DESIGN

Historical cohort study.

SETTING

University-based level I trauma center.

PARTICIPANTS

Motor vehicle crash victims admitted to a level I trauma center in 1993.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recurrent hospitalization, emergency department visits, survival analysis, and standardized mortality ratios for 5 years following injury.

RESULTS

More than one quarter of intoxicated passengers and drivers had recurrent hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Intoxicated occupants were more likely to return to the hospital and the emergency department than nonintoxicated controls (odds ratios, 2.0 and 2.7, respectively). Intoxicated passengers were at increased risk of dying compared with nonintoxicated occupants (P = .008) and with the general population (standardized mortality ratio = 5.8). Intoxicated occupants were more likely to die an alcohol-related death (P< .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Intoxicated passengers injured in a motor vehicle crash are similar to intoxicated drivers in recurrent hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Intoxicated passengers have an increased mortality rate in the 5 years following injury.