Trauma by Traffic Accident in Elderly People: Risk Factors and Consequences

Abstract

Objective: to analyze cases of trauma caused by traffic accidents in elderly individuals assisted at a reference municipal emergency hospital in 2010 and 2011. Method: longitudinal retrospective study was developed at an emergency hospital and a Traffic Accidents Repression Station, with 524 elderly individuals. All variables were submitted for descriptive analysis. Risk of involvement in accidents, occurrence of injury and death were determined using relative risk. Results: a statistically significant association was found in accidents with injuries when motorcycles were the vehicle that ran over the individual. Associations were also found between men and the occurrence of accidents, injury and death, mainly among younger elderly individuals. Most of the 524 elderly individuals who suffered an accident were men, married and had elementary school level education. Of these, 78.6% presented with injuries, with the majority of them being pedestrians. Conclusion: among younger elderly individuals, the possibility of death as a result of the injury was 3.4 times higher in 2010.

Craniofacial trauma in older adults victims of road traffic accidents: a cross-sectional study

“…The divergence of results can be justified by the fact that the study by Cavalcanti et al 18 was carried out with young individuals, who relate the use of alcohol in their leisure moments, which occur predominantly on weekends, 19 a condition that is not frequently observed in older adults, since 95% of road traffic accidents in this population occur without the effect of alcohol. 20 Most road traffic accidents occurred at night, similar to other studies. 7,21 The low visibility typical of the nocturnal period probably explains the higher frequency of accidents during this day shift.…”

“…Therefore, the characteristics of hospital admissions due to road accidents allows to infer that public health measures should be adopted to the elderly because they represent a specific population that is commonly affected by transitory and permanent dysfunctions after involved in traffic accidents, 20 It is important to ensure preventive actions to reduce the prevalence of traffic accidents among this age group; this includes applying resources to maintain road safety and adequate structure. 6 Some measures to achieve this are using speed reducers6, warning signs, road stabilizers 26 and improving lighting and road structure.…”

Trauma em idosos socorridos pelo serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência

“…(3)(4)(5)(6) O trauma caracteriza-se por um conjunto de perturbações lesivas provocadas por um agente físico, com extensão e etiologias diversificadas. (7,8) É a terceira maior causa de óbito no país, atrás somente das doenças cardiovasculares e das neoplasias malignas. (4) Investigações destacam que a causa mais comum de trauma na população idosa são as quedas, seguidas pelos acidentes de trânsito e violência.…”

“…(4) Investigações destacam que a causa mais comum de trauma na população idosa são as quedas, seguidas pelos acidentes de trânsito e violência. (4,8) Para essa população, as quedas representam até dois terços dos acidentes, o que a torna um dos principais previsores de morbimortalidade no país. (3,8) No ano de 2013, foram registradas 93.312 internações por quedas em pessoas acima de 60 anos, o que representou aproximadamente 256 idosos internados por queda ao dia.…”

Spatial analysis of traffic accidents involving older adults in a city in the northeast of Brazil

“…This can be explained by declining reflexes, a loss of hearing and vision, a loss of strength and agility, the presence of chronic diseases and the use of polypharmacy to treat comorbidities, which can negatively affect older adults when crossing public roads. Being run over is the main cause of morbidity and mortality from traffic accidents in this population group 14,16,23 .…”