The economic burden of road trauma injuries in Canada: a comparison of road user types

The incidence and severity of road trauma (RT) injuries differ based on road user type. This results in variability in the economic burden of RT injuries for different road users. This study aimed to estimate healthcare and lost productivity costs, in the year following RT injury by road user type, and to identify predictors of total costs.

We analyzed data from 1372 Canadian RT survivors between July 2018 and March 2020. Total costs, healthcare costs and lost productivity costs in the year following RT were estimated for each participant in 2023 Canadian dollars. Productivity loss was measured using the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months post-injury. A generalized linear model was applied to examine the relationship between patient characteristics and total costs.

Mean healthcare costs varied from $14,840 for cyclists to $27,369 for pedestrians. Mean lost productivity costs varied from $3,995 for pedestrians to $4,741 for motorcyclists. Mean total costs were highest for pedestrians ($30,958), followed by motorcyclists ($28,904), passengers ($22,513), drivers ($20,373), and cyclists ($18,836). Multivariable analyses showed that higher Injury Severity Score was associated with increased total costs across all road user types. Additionally, older age, poorer pre-injury health (lower health-related quality of life and more comorbidities), higher pre-injury pain catastrophizing, and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores were significantly linked to higher total costs in certain road user types. Amongst drivers, students had lower mean total costs than employed patients.

This study demonstrates considerable variability in the economic costs of RT injuries among different road user types. It also identified factors associated with higher costs. This information is essential for policymakers to implement targeted interventions or policies tailored to specific road user groups.