International Seatbelt Study / Seatbelt Research

Many international studies have indicated the effectiveness of seatbelts in reducing injury and hospital admissions from motor vehicle crashes. One of the most comprehensive and informative studies is the Statewide Analysis of Seatbelt Non-use with Injury and Hospital Admissions, performed in Wisconsin.

The Key Elements of this Study:

Objectives: To investigate the association of seatbelt nonuse with injury patterns, injury severity, and in-patient hospital admission among adults presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in a statewide, population-based, sample of motor vehicle crashes.

Methods: Using data from the 2002 Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) for Wisconsin, 23,920 occupants of motor vehicle crashes, aged 16 years or older, who were treated in an emergency department, were analyzed.

Results:

• Compared with belted occupants presenting to an emergency department, their unbelted counterparts were more likely to be male (56% vs. 40%) and to have used alcohol (17% vs. 4%).
• Unbelted occupants were younger (31 years vs. 38 years) and incurred higher emergency department charges ($681 vs. $509) than belted occupants.
• Unbelted occupants have a higher proportion of single-vehicle crashes, such as rollovers (44% vs. 22%), and rural crashes (56% vs. 44%).
• Unbelted occupants comprised 20% of study patients treated in the emergency department and discharged, 44% of patients treated in the emergency department and admitted, and 68% of patients dying in the emergency department.
• Unbelted occupants were more likely to be admitted (odds ratio = 2.6) than belted individuals and were more likely to suffer severe injuries to the head, face, thorax, abdomen, spine, upper and lower extremities

Conclusions:

• Among patients presenting to an emergency department after a motor vehicle crash, unbelted occupants are more likely to require inpatient admission and to have sustained a severe injury to numerous body regions than are belted occupants.
• Injuries and death from motor vehicle crashes present an enormous challenge to health care systems and create a significant societal and economic burden for a country.
• Increasing seat belt usage and compliance would, therefore, have substantial health and economic consequences.

Click here for the Research report

A word of appreciation to the following researchers:
Shane Allen, MPH, Shankuan Zhu, MD, PhD, Carley Sauter, BS, Peter Layde, MD, MSc, Stephen Hargarten, MD, MPH

and

The Injury Research Center , Department of Family and community Medicine , and Department of Emergency Medicine ,Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 Also view: "Child Restraints and Road Safety"