Citation

Kim JH, Park GJ, Shin I, Yong SM, Kim YM, Chai HS, Kim SC, Kim H, Lee SW. 27th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV); April 3-6, 2023; Abstract #: 23-0262, pp. 11p. Washington, DC USA: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2023 open access.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023 open access, US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Abstract

27th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV): Enhanced and Equitable Vehicle Safety for All: Toward the Next 50 Years

https://www-esv.nhtsa.dot.gov/Proceedings/27/27ESV-000262.pdf

Objective: Seat belts and airbags are safety devices designed to prevent road traffic injuries (RTI). They reduce fatal outcomes in patients with RTI. This study aimed to compare their effectiveness on the clinical outcomes of injured patients with RTI.

Methods and Data sources: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted using the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) registry between Jan 2011 and Dec 2020. All patients who sustained RTI in a vehicle with fewer than 10 seats were eligible. The target population was categorized into four groups: seat belt use and airbag deployment, seat belt use only, airbag deployment only, and non-use. The primary outcome was intracranial injury. The secondary and tertiary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital mortality. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) (95% confidence intervals [Cis]) of the safety device for related outcomes were calculated.

Results: Among 82,262 patients, 13,929 (16.9%) were classified as seatbelt and airbag deployment; 47,123 (57.4%) as seatbelt use only; 1,820 (2.2%) as airbag deployment only; and 19,300 (23.5%) as the non-use group. Compared to the non-use group, AORs (95% CIs) for intracranial injury were 0.49 (0.42-0.56) in the seat belt use and airbag deployment groups, 0.39 (0.35-0.44) in the seat belt use only group, and 1.34 (1.08-1.67) in the airbag deployment only group. For in-hospital mortality, AORs were 0.29 (0.22-0.36) in the seat belt use and airbag deployment groups, 0.17 (0.14-0.21) in the seat belt use only group, and 1.74 (1.30-2.32) in the airbag deployment only group.

Conclusion: Seat belt use had a significant preventive effect on intracranial injury and in-hospital mortality. The airbag deployment only group had worse outcomes. Public efforts to increase the proper use of safety devices are needed to reduce the RTI burden.

Keywords: Accidents, Traffic, Seat Belts, Air Bags, Brain Injuries