| Objective: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of the road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Guilan province,
northern Iran.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study which included all of RTIs admitted to medical centers of
Guilan province (northern Iran) during 2012. ICD-10 was used as diagnostic criteria. Demographic variables
also injury circumstance and in hospital variables such as length of stay, time of admission, type of surgery, ICU
admission, final outcome and mechanism of injury, anatomical part of injury according to Abbreviated Injury
Scale (AIS) classification were derives from records by trained research team. Descriptive data is reported. The
predictors of mortality were also determined.
Results: The prevalence of road traffic injuries in Guilan province was 31 in 10,000 populations. Of total 7671
accidents, 5976 (77.9%) were men and 1695 (22.1%) were women. Mean age of these victims was 33.3±17.289
years (32.64±16.939 for men, 35.62±18.312 for women). Most of them (32.5%) were 20-29 years old. Motorcyclecar
accidents had the highest frequency followed by car-car crashes and car accidents involving pedestrians.
Most of the patients (85.9%) were hospitalized and 280 injured died (3.7%). Upper extremities were the most
sites of injuries. Male sex, length of hospital stay, multiple injuries and increased age were associated with road
traffic accident associated mortality.
Conclusion: RTIs cause enormous death and disability in this area and more road traffic preventive programs
should be enforcement in these areas to reduce incidences RTI. |