Citation

Koroukian SM, Beaird H, Duldner JE, Diaz M. J. Trauma 2007; 62(4): 989-995.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/01.ta.0000210359.98816.45

PMID

17426558

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: To identify the leading causes of injury- and violence-related deaths in demographic subgroups of the population in Ohio, by Medicaid status. METHODS:: We used linked Ohio Medicaid and death certificate files, 1992 to 1998, and obtained the probability (p) of dying from a specific mechanism of injury- given death from injury-by Medicaid status, using multinomial multivariable logistic regression analysis. Probabilities were rank-ordered to identify the leading causes of death in each subgroup. RESULTS:: The leading cause of injury-related deaths was homicide among Medicaid decedents in the age groups 0 to 4, 15 to 24, and 25 to 44 (p = 0.283, 0.380, and 0.269, respectively), and motor vehicle crashes among nonMedicaid decedents aged 5 to 14, 15 to 24, 25 to 44, and 45 to 74 (p = 0.448, 0.462, 0.293, and 0.293, respectively). Accidental falls ranked first among the elderly (p = 0.593 and 0.414, respectively in Medicaid and nonMedicaid decedents). Suicide and accidental exposure to smoke, fire, and flames also ranked high among the leading causes of injury-related deaths in many population subgroups. CONCLUSIONS:: Findings from this study, pointing to the vulnerability of population subgroups to certain mechanisms of injury, can be used to formulate targeted prevention strategies.

Language: en