IDART- a national study on targeted injury prevention

Background: Traumatic injuries are among the most common causes of deaths worldwide, and the fifth most common cause of years lived with disability. In Norway, traumatic injuries were the most common cause of death in the age-group under 45 years of age in the years 2011-2016. In addition to demographic, socioeconomic and geographical risk factors, we also know that alcohol and drug use increase the risk of being involved in and dying of traumatic injuries. However, routine testing of trauma patients for alcohol and drugs is not implemented in Norway. This results in an underestimation of the prevalence and risk of impairing drugs and alcohol in traumatic injuries.

Objective: The IDART (Impairing Drugs and Alcohol as Risk Factors for Traumatic Injuries) study is a national prospective study, with the objective to assess the prevalence of psychoactive medicinal, illicit drugs and alcohol in all trauma patients admitted to the 38 trauma hospitals in Norway between March 2019 and March 2020. The aim of the study is targeted injury prevention through improved data collection and analysis.

Methods: Information about the patient and injury mechanism is recorded for all patients admitted via trauma team activation to all Norwegian trauma hospitals. Exclusion criterion is age < 16 year. Blood samples are collected and analyzed for the 35 most commonly used psychoactive medicinal and illegal drugs and ethanol.

Results: The pilot study began in September 2018, and preliminary data on approximately 700 patients indicate the following distribution of injuries; 46% transport, 33% falls, 6% violence, 4% work-related and 12% other/unknown. Toxicological analyses indicate that 41% of the patients had one or more psychoactive drugs and/or alcohol in their blood.

Discussion: The IDART study will provide valuable data on the prevalence of impairing drugs and alcohol in trauma patients in Norway during a 12 month period.

Disclosure: This study is sponsored by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, Oslo University Hospital and Innlandet Hospital Trust.