Hospitalizations for traumatic injuries among children in Maryland: trends in incidence and severity: 1979 through 1988.

Trends in incidence and severity of hospitalized injury among children aged 0 through 13 years in the state of Maryland from 1979 through 1988 (n = 35,746) were examined using routinely reported hospital discharge data. Hospital discharge rates declined over the study period from 509 per 100,000 population in 1979 to 320 in 1988. There was a decline in incidence trends for both races. However, the decrease in the nonwhite population was smaller than in whites. Analysis of incidence rates for specific Injury Severity Score groups revealed a declining trend in all Injury Severity Score groups, although the mildest group (Injury Severity Score 1 through 4) had the most notable decline of 44% compared with an average decline of 20% in the other severity groups. These data suggest a change in admission practices of mildly injured children as a major cause for the observed overall decline in hospitalization rates. The smaller decrease in the hospitalization rates of non-white children compared with white children requires further study to determine the cause.