RESUMEN
Social and medical consequences of 278 children and 264 adults injured in bicycle accidents and seen in two hospitals in Helsinki in 1985-86 were analyzed. Information was collected from patient records, by means of a special questionnaire and by telephone interview. A child outpatient required 1.7 and a child inpatient 3.0 physician visits on an average, while adults required 2.2 and 4.9 visits, respectively. The average duration of hospital stay was 8 days for hospitalized adults and 6 days for children. Rehabilitative care outside the hospital was received by 6% of the adult outpatients and 25% of the inpatients, but none of the injured children. The mean duration of work disability was 82 days among inpatients, 11 days among outpatients, 127 days among the inpatients injured in motor vehicle collisions and 65 days among inpatients injured in other bicycle accidents. Of inpatients 32% and of outpatients 5% reported persistent (> 6 months) disability. Persistent disability was recorded in 11% of children, in 47% of adults and in 67% of elderly inpatients. Most serious consequences were due to intracranial injuries in motor vehicle-bicycle collisions. Of the hospitalized bicyclists 4% suffered from severe cognitive and behavioural changes or sense impairment and of adult inpatients 3% suffered from permanent work disability. The average costs of health and social services were about FIM 1000 per adult outpatient and FIM 13000 per adult inpatient. In prevention high priority should be given to motor vehicle collisions, head injuries and injuries among the elderly bicyclists.
Asunto(s)
Accidentes de Tránsito/estadística & datos numéricos , Traumatismos en Atletas/epidemiología , Ciclismo/lesiones , Costo de Enfermedad , Personas con Discapacidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Accidentes de Tránsito/economía , Actividades Cotidianas , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Atención Ambulatoria/economía , Traumatismos en Atletas/economía , Traumatismos en Atletas/rehabilitación , Niño , Preescolar , Costos y Análisis de Costo , Femenino , Finlandia/epidemiología , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Admisión del Paciente/economíaRESUMEN
To assess the risk of nonfatal bicycle injury related to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) an unmatched case-control study was conducted in Helsinki in 1986. Eligible cases were the 140 adults injured either in motor vehicle or other bicycle accidents occurring between 3 P.M. and 10 P.M., who arrived at hospital within six hours of injury. Seven hundred bicyclists from the street were randomly selected as controls. BAC was measured with a breathalyzer. A major difference in alcohol involvement was found between cases (24.1%) and controls (4.0%). The injury risk estimate (odds ratio) of an inebriated bicyclist was at least ten-fold at BACs above 100 mg/dl compared to a sober bicyclist. Alcohol increased the bicyclist's risk of injury from falling more than from collision. As an unprotected road user, an inebriated bicyclist greatly increases his own risk of injury but seldom causes danger to other road users.
Asunto(s)
Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas , Ciclismo/lesiones , Adolescente , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Data from analysis of bicycle injuries in a defined, semirural Finnish population were compared with the national hospital discharge register and official police statistics and were related to national data on prevalence of bicycling. The results suggested an incidence of 7.3 injured persons/1000 population, which was 20-fold the figure derived from the police statistics. Inclusion of injuries treated at health centres doubled the number requiring medical attention. Bicycle injuries accounted for 52% of all traffic injuries. A motor vehicle was involved in 11% of bicycle injuries. In these accidents 18% of the victims were hospitalized, but only 6% in other bicycle accidents. Police and hospital records overestimated the proportion of motor vehicle crashes, involvement of elderly persons and incidence of head injuries and fractures. Non-motor vehicle bicycle accidents accounted for most of bicycle injuries, for 58% of in-patients and 93% of out-patients. Information from all levels of health care is required for injury control.