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Hospitalizations for traumatic injuries among children in Maryland: trends in incidence and severity: 1979 through
B Marganitt1, E J MacKenzie, J K Deshpande
1Health Services Research and Development Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Insights
Childhood injury hospitalizations decreased from 1979-1988, mainly due to fewer mild injuries admitted. Disparities in hospitalization rates between racial groups warrant further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury surveillance
- Public health epidemiology
- Trauma care trends
Background:
- Childhood injuries represent a significant public health concern.
- Understanding hospitalization trends is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine trends in the incidence and severity of hospitalized injuries among children (0-13 years) in Maryland from 1979 to 1988.
- To identify demographic and severity-based patterns in pediatric injury hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of routinely reported hospital discharge data for 35,746 children.
- Examination of hospitalization rates stratified by year, race, and Injury Severity Score (ISS).
Main Results:
- Overall pediatric injury hospitalization rates declined from 509 to 320 per 100,000 population.
- A notable decrease was observed in the mildest injury group (ISS 1-4), declining by 44%.
- Hospitalization rates decreased for both white and non-white children, but the decline was less pronounced in the non-white population.
Conclusions:
- Changes in admission practices for mildly injured children likely contributed significantly to the overall decline in hospitalizations.
- Disparities in the decline of hospitalization rates between white and non-white children require further research to understand underlying causes.
Abstract:
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.