Derek J Roberts1, Debanjana Das2, Michelle Mercado3, Christine Vis3, John B Kortbeek4, Andrew W Kirkpatrick5, Chad G Ball6. 1. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. 2. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. 3. Department of Regional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. 4. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Regional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. 5. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Regional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. 6. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Regional Trauma Services, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29th Street Northwest, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. Electronic address: Ball.Chad@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Injury epidemiology fluctuates with economic activity in many countries. These relationships remain unclear in Canada. METHODS: The annual risk of admission for major injury (Injury Severity Score ≥12) to a high-volume, level-1 Canadian trauma center was compared with indicators of economic activity over a 16-year period using linear regression. RESULTS: An increased risk of injured patient admissions was associated with rising mean gross domestic product (GDP [millions of chained 2002 dollars]) (.36 person increase per 100,000 population/$1,000 increase in GDP; P = .001) and annual gasoline prices (.47 person increase per 100,000 population/cent increase in gasoline price; P = .001). Recreation-related vehicle injuries were also associated with economic affluence. The risk of trauma patient mortality with increasing mean annual GDP (P = .72) and gasoline prices (P = .32) remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Hospital admissions for major injury, but not trauma patient mortality, were associated with economic activity in a large Canadian health care region.
BACKGROUND:Injury epidemiology fluctuates with economic activity in many countries. These relationships remain unclear in Canada. METHODS: The annual risk of admission for major injury (Injury Severity Score ≥12) to a high-volume, level-1 Canadian trauma center was compared with indicators of economic activity over a 16-year period using linear regression. RESULTS: An increased risk of injured patient admissions was associated with rising mean gross domestic product (GDP [millions of chained 2002 dollars]) (.36 person increase per 100,000 population/$1,000 increase in GDP; P = .001) and annual gasoline prices (.47 person increase per 100,000 population/cent increase in gasoline price; P = .001). Recreation-related vehicle injuries were also associated with economic affluence. The risk of traumapatient mortality with increasing mean annual GDP (P = .72) and gasoline prices (P = .32) remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Hospital admissions for major injury, but not traumapatient mortality, were associated with economic activity in a large Canadian health care region.
Authors: Chad G Ball; Debanjana Das; Derek J Roberts; Christine Vis; Andrew W Kirkpatrick; John B Kortbeek Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 2.089