Road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between 5 and 44 years of age, predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. Information about type of RTA associated injuries and their outcome is highly deficient for Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted to describe the type of injuries, their outcome and determinants among RTA victims admitted in King Saud Medical City (KSMC) Riyadh.
Methodology
All the patients admitted in KSMC with road traffic accidents during the year 2010 were included in the study. Data was extracted from the medical records using a structured data extraction tool covering patients' socio-demographic information, circumstances of accident, type of injuries sustained, patient management, complications developed and final outcome.
Results
During the year 2010, a total of 974 road traffic accident victims were admitted. Males were 89.9% and the modal age group was 21 - 30 years accounting for 36.1% patients. 79.5% patients were Saudis. Majority of the victims were in cars/jeeps and were drivers; out of 100 drivers/passengers for whom information was available, only 2% used seatbelt. 46.9% patients had lower limb, 25.6% had upper limb injury and 22.9% had head injury. 12.7% patients were unconscious at time of admission, 12.0% required mechanical ventilation and 9.4% were given blood transfusion. 5.5% patients were discharged with disabilities and 3.5% died in hospital. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis mechanical ventilation was identified as the strongest predictor of mortality (OR 202.5; 95% CI 39.3-1042). Others statistically significant predictors were being non-Saudi (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.7-12.7), having abdominal injury (OR 5.6; 95% CI 1.4-22.8), and having spinal injury (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.5-11.3).
Conclusion
Road traffic accidents are a major public health problem in our setting and the young adult male in their economically productive age group are mostly involved. Seat belt usage was rare. Being non-Saudi, need for mechanical ventilation assistance, abdominal injury and spinal injury were the statistically significant predictors of mortality.