Faculty Collaboration Database

A single urban center experience with adult pedestrians struck by motor vehicles. WMJ 2013 Jun;112(3):117-22; quiz 123

Date

07/31/2013

Pubmed ID

23894809

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3845352

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84878874875 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pedestrian-vehicle crashes are a significant problem in public health. Understanding contributing factors within a specific community helps recognize and target key intervention points.

METHODS: Trauma registry analysis included all of the patients treated at a Level I trauma center following pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Variables examined included patient demographics, timing of collision, abbreviated injury scale score, injury severity score (ISS), hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and emergency department and hospital disposition.

RESULTS: A total of 945 pedestrians were reviewed within the study period. Average age was 46.4+/-19.4 years. One hundred seventy-seven (18.7%) patients were elderly and of the elderly group, 69 (39%) were 80 years of age or greater. The median ISS score was 12, average hospital LOS was 10.8 days and average ICU length of stay was 6.0+/-7.5 days. More elderly patients required admission to the ICU than the nonelderly (61.6% vs 40.2%; P<0.001), and more elderly patients required admission to a skilled nursing facility than nonelderly (42.1% vs. 9%; P< 0.001). The mortality rate for elderly patients was more than double that of nonelderly patients (20.9% vs 9.1%; P<0.001). Pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions occurred disproportionately between the hours of 6 PM and midnight (P< 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Elderly patients struck by a motor vehicle have a mortality rate twice that of the nonelderly and a higher rate of discharge to a skilled nursing facility, despite having a similar injury severity score on admission. This highlights the need for aggressive prevention efforts targeted at the elderly population.

Author List

McElroy LM, Juern JJ, Bertleson A, Xiang Q, Szabo A, Weigelt J

Author

Aniko Szabo PhD Professor in the Data Science Institute department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Accidents, Traffic
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Chi-Square Distribution
Female
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Intensive Care Units
Length of Stay
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Vehicles
Registries
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Trauma Centers
Urban Population
Walking
Wisconsin
Wounds and Injuries