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Manor U, Apterman S, Ben-Haim G, Prat D. Physical Trauma Following Rocket Warning Sirens in Israel. Mil Med 2023; 188:e2896-e2899. [PMID: 36383071 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Civilians constitute a significant wartime target, and trauma accounts for most of their injuries. Air raid sirens have long been used to alert civilians of incoming attacks and have since expanded to warn from natural disasters. Sirens are known to cause significant emotional distress and physiological changes. Injuries inflicted from trauma while moving for shelter have yet to be described in the medical literature. METHODS During the recent Israel-Gaza conflict of May 2021, most of Israel's population experienced rocket warning sirens. We collected all adult (18<) patients arriving at a major tertiary medical center emergency department (ED), attesting to having suffered their injury while rushing for shelter. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 48 patients were identified, with a mean age of 59.6 ± 20.0. Ten (21%) patients were admitted, and their mean length of stay was 4.4 ± 3.7 days. Women had a higher probability of being hospitalized (42.9% vs. 5.9%, P = .04), and those hospitalized tended to be older (68.8 ± 16.4 vs. 54.8 ± 20.8, P = .06). Elderly patients (65<) had a higher risk of injury. Extremity injuries were most common (50%), before head trauma (29%) and torso injuries (25%). Most patients (38/48, 79.2%) were discharged from the ED, and the rest were hospitalized for observation or surgery. One patient died from a head injury. CONCLUSIONS This study implies that injuries while moving for shelter were a prevalent cause of physical injury to Israeli civilians during the Israel-Gaza 2021 conflict. Warning sirens injuries should be given appropriate attention-from prevention by directed media campaigns to post-conflict reimbursement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Manor
- Internal Medicine "C" Department, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer 5262000, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Sagy Apterman
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer 5262000, Israel
| | - Gal Ben-Haim
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer 5262000, Israel
| | - Dan Prat
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer 5262000, Israel
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Banerjee N, Sharma N, Soni KD, Bansal V, Mahajan A, Khajanchi M, Gerdin Wärnberg M, Roy N. Are home environment injuries more fatal in children and the elderly? Injury 2022; 53:1987-1993. [PMID: 35367079 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION 'In-home injuries' are those that occur within the house or its immediate surroundings. The literature on the prevalence and magnitude of home injuries is sparse. This study was designed to characterize the mechanisms of 'in-home' injuries and compare their outcomes with 'outside home injuries'. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Australia-India Trauma Systems Collaboration (AITSC) Project created a multicentric registry consisting of trauma patients admitted at four urban tertiary care hospitals in India from April 2016 to March 2018. This registry data was analysed for this study. All admitted patients except for dead on arrival were included. Patients were categorised into 'in-home' and 'outside home' cohorts based on the place where the trauma occurred. The outcome measures were 30 day in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay. Two subgroup analyses were performed, the first comprised pediatric patients (<15 years) and the second elderly patients >64 years). RESULTS Among 9354 patients in the AITSC data registry, 8398 patients were included in the study. Out of these, 29 percent were in-home injuries, whereas the rest occurred outside home. The 30 day in-hospital mortality was 10.6 percent in the 'in-home' cohort, as compared to 13.7 percent in the 'outside home' cohort. This difference although significant on univariable analysis (p <0.01), there was no significant difference on multivariable regression analysis, after adjusting for age and injury severity score (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.73-1.04; p = 0.15). The length of hospital stay was shorter in the home injuries group (median = 5 days; IQR = 3-12 days) compared to the outside-home group (median = 7 days; IQR = 4-14 days) (p < 0.01). In the pediatric and the elderly, on multivariable regression analysis, in-home injuries were associated with higher mortality than outside home injuries. CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in the 30 day in-hospital mortality amongst admitted trauma patients sustaining injuries at home or outside the home. However, in pediatric and elderly patients the chances of mortality was significantly higher when injured at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Banerjee
- Department of General Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India
| | - Naveen Sharma
- Department of General Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India
| | - Kapil Dev Soni
- Critical and Intensive Care, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Varun Bansal
- Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | | | - Monty Khajanchi
- Department of Surgery, Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India
| | - Martin Gerdin Wärnberg
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Function Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Nobhojit Roy
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Surgical Unit, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Surgical Care Delivery in LMICs, BARC Hospital (Government of India), Mumbai, India.
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Al-Hajj S, Ariss AB, Bachir R, Helou M, Zaghrini E, Fatouh F, Rahme R, El Sayed MJ. Paediatric injury in Beirut: a multicentre retrospective chart review study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055639. [PMID: 35338061 PMCID: PMC8961129 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the epidemiology of paediatric injury in Beirut, giving insights into their characteristics, contributing risk factors and outcomes. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective study was conducted to review medical charts for children aged 0-15 years presented to five hospital emergency departments (ED) located in Beirut over a 1-year period (June 2017-May 2018). PARTICIPANTS A total of 1142 trauma-related visits for children under 15 years of age were included. A descriptive analysis and a bivariate analysis were performed to investigate admitted and treated/discharged patients. PRIMARY OUTCOME A logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with hospital admission among injured children. RESULTS A total of 1142 cases of paediatric injury ED cases were sampled, mean age was 7.7±4.35 years. Children aged 0-5 years accounted for more than one-third of the total cases, 40.0% (206/516) of the fall injuries and 60.1% (220/366) of home injuries. The leading cause of paediatric injury was fall (45.2%), nearly 4.1% of the cases were admitted to hospitals. Factors associated with admission included injury to abdomen (OR=8.25 (CI 1.11 to 61.24)), to upper extremity (OR=5.79 (CI 2.04 to 16.49)), to lower extremity (OR=5.55 (95% CI 2.02 to 15.20) and other insurance type (OR=8.33 (CI 2.19 to 31.67)). The three types of injuries mostly associated with hospital admission were fracture (OR=13.55 (CI 4.77 to 38.44)), concussion (OR=13.60 (CI 2.83 to 65.41)) and organ system injury (OR=31.63 (CI 3.45 to 290.11)). CONCLUSIONS Injury remains a major health problem among the paediatric population in Lebanon. Parental child safety educational programmes and age-targeted injury prevention strategies should be initiated and implemented to mitigate the burden of child injuries and improve child safety and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdel-Badih Ariss
- Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rana Bachir
- American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mariana Helou
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elie Zaghrini
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Lebanese Hospital Geitawi, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Fathalla Fatouh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harriri University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rachid Rahme
- Sacre-Coeur Hospital, Baabda, Mont-Liban, Lebanon
| | - Mazen J El Sayed
- Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Chweya RN, Mambo SN, Gachohi JM. Demographic, occupational and societal risk exposures to physical injuries in a rural community in Western Kenya: a 12-week longitudinal study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e053161. [PMID: 34521680 PMCID: PMC8442073 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We studied factors associated with the weekly occurrence of physical injuries in a rural setting to determine injury-related burden and risk exposures. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Suna-West subcounty, Migori County, Western Kenya. PARTICIPANTS 390 study participants (subjects) cluster sampled from 92 households, recruited and followed up for 12 weeks, between August and October 2019. METHODS We collected data weekly on occurrence of injuries, individual-level and household-level independent variables using a standard interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO survey tool for injuries. Analyses related occurrence of injuries and independent variables using a multilevel Poisson regression model, adjusting for age and sex. OUTCOME MEASURES Quantifying injury-related burden and patterns by demographic, occupational and societal risk exposures. RESULTS We documented 44 injuries, coming from 38 subjects dwelling in 30 of the 92 study households. On average, each study subject and household experienced 1.2 and 1.5 episodes of injuries across the 12 study weeks. Open wounds and bruises were the most frequent injuries commonly reported among middle-aged (18-54 years) and young (5-17 years) subjects at 32.2 and 7.6 episodes per 1000-person week, respectively. The common cause of injuries among young, middle-aged and old subjects (>54 years) were falls, road accidents and person-related assault or being hit by an object, each at 15.2, 18.9, and 11.4 episodes per 1000-person week, respectively. Subjects not domesticating animals (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=7.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 41.7) and those making a visit outside the local subcounty of residence (IRR=2.2, 95% CI 1.5 to 3.1) were at higher risk of reporting injuries. CONCLUSION We provide evidence of a higher burden of physical injuries associated with demographic, occupational and societal risk exposures with the most injuries resulting from falls. Further studies could better define granular characteristics constituting these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reagan Ngoge Chweya
- School of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan Njoki Mambo
- School of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John Mwangi Gachohi
- School of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- Global Health Program Kenya, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
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Cordova LZ, Savage N, Ram R, Ellis L, Tobin V, Rozen WM, Seifman MA. Effects of COVID-19 lockdown measures on emergency plastic and reconstructive surgery presentations. ANZ J Surg 2021; 91:415-419. [PMID: 33538101 PMCID: PMC8013506 DOI: 10.1111/ans.16625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background In Australia, the COVID‐19 pandemic has caused severe social disruptions, including restrictions to the movement of people. Healthcare centres around the world have seen changes in the nature of injuries acquired during the COVID‐19 pandemic; we therefore hypothesize that social isolation measures have changed the pattern of plastic and reconstructive surgery presentations. Methods A prospective cohort study was designed comparing patient presentations during the enforced COVID‐19 lockdown to two previous periods. All emergency referrals requiring operative intervention by the plastic and reconstructive surgery unit of our institution were included. Patient demographics, place and mechanism of injury, drug and alcohol involvement, delays to presentation, length of admission and complication rates were collected. Results Demographics and complication rates were similar across all groups. A 31.8% reduction in total number of emergency cases was seen during the lockdown period. Increase in do‐it‐yourself injuries (P = 0.001), bicycle injuries (P = 0.001) and injuries acquired via substance abuse (P = 0.041) was observed. Head and neck injuries, mostly due to animal bites and falls, were also more prevalent compared to the same period the previous year (P = 0.007). As expected, over 80% of plastic surgery operations during the COVID‐19 period were due to injuries acquired at home, a significant increase compared to previous periods. Conclusion Despite changes in the pattern of presentations requiring plastic and reconstructive emergency surgery, traumatic injuries continued to occur during the pandemic. Thus, planning will be essential to ensure resource allocation for emergency procedures is sustained as second and third waves of COVID‐19 cases emerge worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Z Cordova
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas Savage
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachna Ram
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Ellis
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vicky Tobin
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Warren M Rozen
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marc A Seifman
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Ferrante P. Asbestosis and silicosis hospitalizations in Italy (2001-2015): results from the National Hospital Discharge Registry. Eur J Public Health 2020; 29:876-882. [PMID: 30753424 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This work is aimed at evaluating the quality of Italian hospitalizations data about asbestosis and silicosis, assessing the impact of these diseases on the national health system and providing advice related to public health. METHODS Italian hospital discharge data (2001-15) with diagnosis of asbestosis or silicosis were analysed by the multiple correspondence analysis and diseases epidemics were evaluated through hospitalization rates. RESULTS Hospitalizations were concentrated in the northwestern area, referred mainly to males and oldest people, the most treated tumors were lung cancer and mesothelioma (for asbestosis) and cares were aimed at reducing symptoms and increasing blood oxygenation. Overall adjusted Italian hospitalization rates of asbestosis and silicosis were, respectively, 25.2 and 74.9 per 1 000 000 residents. With respect to asbestosis, hospitalizations treating silicosis reported doubled mortality (10.5 vs. 5.7%), longer stays (10.4 vs. 8.6 mean days) and older patients (77 vs. 72 years on average). Diseases rates reduced over time (with a steeper slope for silicosis) and in both fibroses increased hospital mortality (92.1% in asbestoses, 59.5% in silicoses) and percentage of urgent hospitalizations (116.0% in asbestoses, 56.6% in silicoses). CONCLUSION Hospitalizations data regarding asbestosis and silicosis are consistent. Silicosis had a higher impact than asbestosis on the Italian health system. Although data show decreasing incidence of both fibroses, multiple correspondence analysis highlights that levels of illness severity were higher in silicosis and increased over time in both diseases. Further studies investigating the effectiveness of the current health surveillance programs concerning these diseases are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Ferrante
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian National Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
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Santagati G, Vezzosi L, Angelillo IF. Unintentional Injuries in Children Up to Six Years of Age and Related Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors in Italy. J Pediatr 2016; 177:267-272.e2. [PMID: 27492869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.06.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe risk factors associated with unintentional injuries among children aged <6 years and to examine parents' level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about pediatric injuries and related preventive measures. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and July 2015 on a random sample of 794 parents of 3- to 6-year-old children through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 409 parents participated. Two-thirds of the children had experienced at least 1 unintentional injury in the previous 12 months. More than one-half of these children were boys. The leading cause was falls; the injuries occurred mainly at home, and only 9.2% were brought for attention to an emergency department. Parents who did not believe that it is possible to prevent unintentional injuries were more likely to have had a child injured. Approximately 70% of respondents were aware of security measures to prevent pediatric injuries, and this knowledge was more prevalent in older parents and in those with at least a college level of education compared with those with a middle school education. The perceived utility of education about preventive measures of pediatric injuries had a mean value of 8.9 on a Likert scale of 1-10 (1, not useful, to 10, very useful) and was significantly higher in mothers. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights a clear need for public health educational programs for parents regarding prevention of unintentional injuries in children as a valuable tool to increase safety and injury prevention and to reduce risks, because the majority of such injuries occur at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Santagati
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Vezzosi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Italo F Angelillo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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de Putter CE, van Beeck EF, Polinder S, Panneman MJM, Burdorf A, Hovius SER, Selles RW. Healthcare costs and productivity costs of hand and wrist injuries by external cause: A population-based study in working-age adults in the period 2008-2012. Injury 2016; 47:1478-82. [PMID: 27198618 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2016.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hand and wrist injuries are very common at the Emergency Departments (ED), and among the most costly injury types in the working population. The purpose of this study was to explore the causes of non-trivial hand and wrist injuries (i.e., hand fractures, wrist fractures and complex soft-tissue injuries) in working-age adults in order to identify target areas for prevention. METHODS Data were extracted from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System, from the National Hospital Discharge Registry and from a patient follow-up survey in working-age adults (aged 20-64 years) in the period 2008-2012. An incidence-based cost model was used to estimate healthcare costs, and an absenteeism model for estimating the productivity costs. Total costs were calculated by external cause, subdivided in their main categories (home, sports, work, traffic and violence) and their most important subclasses. RESULTS Total costs of these injuries in The Netherlands were US $410 million per year, of which 75% (US $307 million) productivity costs. Males represented 66% (US $271 million) of the total costs. Within the male group, the group 35-49 years had the highest contribution to total costs (US $112 million), as well as the highest costs per case (US $10,675). Work-related injuries showed the highest costs per case (US $11,797), however, only 25% of the total costs were work-related. The top five causes in terms of total costs were: accidents at home (falls 23%, contact with an object 17%), traffic (cycling 9%) and work (industrial work 4%, and construction work 4%). CONCLUSION Hand and wrist injuries are a major cause of healthcare and productivity costs in working-age adults. To reduce the costs to society, prevention initiatives should be targeted at major contributing causes, that are mainly related to activities at home (falls, contact with an object) and accidents at the road (cycling).
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Affiliation(s)
- C E de Putter
- Department of Plastic-, Reconstructive- and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - E F van Beeck
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - S Polinder
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - A Burdorf
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - S E R Hovius
- Department of Plastic-, Reconstructive- and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - R W Selles
- Department of Plastic-, Reconstructive- and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine & Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Epidemiological risk analysis of home injuries in Italy (1999-2006). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 11:4402-16. [PMID: 24758894 PMCID: PMC4024988 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110404402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Home injuries are an important public health issue in both developed and developing countries. This study focused on the Italian epidemiological framework between 1999 and 2006, using a nation-representative sample provided by the National Institute of Statistics. Every year, about 3,000,000 Italian residents reported at least one home injury, with an overall annual rate of 5.2/100 (95% CI 5.1–5.4); 3.2/100 (3.0–3.4) for males and 7.2/100 (6.9–7.4) for females. Poisson regression models were used for different age-specific populations (children, young/adults and older people), to evaluate the effects of socio-demographic, health/income satisfaction and housing variables. For children, non-applicable variables (including smoking and health satisfaction) were taken as those of the head of family, while housework time was taken the family mean time. Evidence of decreasing time trend in risk of home injury was found only among young/adults (p < 0.01). The following were risk factors: female gender (adjusted relative risk—RR 2.0 for older people and RR 1.9 for young/adults, p < 0.01); one additional hour of work at home (RR 1.009, p < 0.01 for young/adults and RR 1.016, p = 0.01 for children); smoking (RR 1.3, p < 0.01 for young/adults and p = 0.02 for children); health dissatisfaction (RR 1.3, p = 0.05 for children, RR 1.6 for young/adults and RR 1.7 for older people, p < 0.01); income dissatisfaction (RR 1.2, p < 0.01 for young/adults ); living alone (RR 1.5, p < 0.01 for young/adults and RR 1.2, p < 0.02 for the older people); having a garden (RR 1.1, p < 0.01 for young/adults ). Awareness of the need for safety at home could be boosted by information campaigns on the risk, and its social cost could be reduced by specific prevention schemes. Developing tools for assessing the risk at home and for removing the main hazards would be useful for both informative and prevention interventions.
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