Unemployment rates and trauma admissions

In this article, we tested the hypothesis that the number and demographic characteristics of admissions to our trauma center were related to unemployment rates. The correlation study was conducted at The American College of Surgeons-verified level I trauma center in our area (New Orleans, Louisiana). It included all trauma admissions. Monthly unemployment rate data from our area were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The hospital trauma registry supplied trauma emergency room admissions and demographic data. Mean daily trauma admissions were calculated for each month. Pearson correlations were used for statistical analysis. Over 24,000 trauma admissions occurred over a six-year period. Unemployment rates correlated with penetrating trauma admissions (r = 0.50; p < 0.001). Interestingly, unemployment rates inversely correlated with total trauma admissions (r = -0.73; p < 0.001), blunt trauma admissions (r = -0.81; p < 0.001), and ratio of blunt-to-penetrating trauma admissions (r = -0.82; p < 0.001). Higher percentage of male patients (r = 0.66; p < 0.001), percentage of African-American patients (r = 0.53; p < 0.001), and mortality (r = 0.56; p < 0.001) correlated positively with higher unemployment rates. We concluded that as unemployment rates decrease, emergency room penetrating trauma admissions decrease, while total and blunt trauma admissions increase. As the socioeconomic status (measured by unemployment rates) of the community changes, so do the demographic make-up and mortality of the trauma population. Our findings suggest that during times of economic hardships, certain population groups are at higher risk for trauma. Prevention should be aimed accordingly.