Relationship between alcohol use and traumatic brain injury: evidence from Mendelian randomization.

Abstract

Background: Observational studies suggest that alcohol consumption increases the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the causality of this association remains unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify which drinking pattern is the primary factor influencing TBI.

Method: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to assess whether drinking patterns (alcohol consumption, abuse, and intake frequency) are causally associated with TBI risk.

Results: MR analysis revealed causal effects of alcohol intake frequency [odds ratio (OR) 0.806, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.665-0.978, p = 0.028, beta: -0.215, se: 0.098], alcohol drinks per week (OR 1.772, 95% CI: 1.140-2.753, p = 0.011, beta: 0.572, se: 0.225), and alcohol abuse (OR 1.095, 95% CI: 1.006-1.192, p = 0.035, beta: 0.091, se: 0.043) on TBI. Additionally, no causal effect of alcohol consumption (OR 0.730, 95% CI: 0.264-2.025, p = 0.546, beta: -0.314, se: 0.520) or average monthly alcohol intake (OR 1.138, 95% CI: 0.805-1.609, p = 0.463, beta: 0.130, se: 0.177) on TBI was observed. Similarly, the effects of TBI on alcohol intake were statistically non-significant.

Conclusion: Drinking patterns, including alcohol intake frequency and abuse, influence TBI, whereas TBI rarely influences drinking patterns.