Citation

Lapidus G, Banco L. Conn. Med. 1990; 54(2): 51-55.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, Hartford Hospital, CT 06115-0729.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Connecticut State Medical Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2306939

Abstract

Vital statistics and hospital discharge data were analyzed to provide a detailed epidemiologic profile of injury among Hartford residents 0 to 19 years of age. During 1980-86, 76 death certificates identified injury as the cause of death, resulting in an annual age-specific death rate of 2.3 per 10,000 persons. Injuries caused more deaths among one to 19 year olds (58%) than all other diseases combined. During 1982-86 injury was listed as the principal diagnosis leading to hospitalization for 2,220 Hartford residents 0 to 19 years. The hospitalization rate was 95 per 10,000 persons. Injuries accounted for 16% of all hospital discharges. For ages 0 to 19, homicide was the leading injury-related cause of death accounting for 43% of fatalities. Falls were the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations accounting for 22% if all discharges. Clay-Arsenal (23%) and the Northeast (17%) neighborhoods accounted for the largest proportion of injury deaths. Actual inpatient hospital charges for 1986 were reviewed. The total cost for 420 injury discharges utilizing 2,208 hospital days exceeded $1.4 million dollars. Fifty-one percent of the injury discharges listed Medicaid as the primary expected payment source for acute care injury-related discharges. The statistical patterns identified in this report will help public health professionals establish goals for injury control efforts such as a reduction in morbidity, mortality, severity, and/or medical costs.

Language: en