@article{ref1,
title="Stature, body weight, and serious injury from air bags among adult drivers and passengers involved in motor vehicle crashes",
journal="Academic emergency medicine",
year="2007",
author="Newgard, C. and McConnell, K. John",
volume="14",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="S108-S108",
abstract="Automotive Sampling System database (NASS) from 1995-2005. Using this cohort, we tested for an interaction (effect modification) between outcome was &quot;serious&quot; injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS]  3) in any body region. Multivariable logistic regression models, stratified by drivers versus passengers, included: airbag, height, weight, plus 10 important crash confounders. Interaction terms with p < 0.10 were considered significant. For each occupant, we calculated the probability (risk) of injury both with and without an air bag. All analyses included clusters, strata, and weights.  <p>Results</p>  <p>52,552 drivers and 14,732 passengers were involved in MVCs over the 11-year period, of which 2.5% drivers and 2.6% passengers were seriously injured. Height modified the effect of an airbag for passengers (p = 0.08), though this was less prominent for drivers (p = 0.15). Weight did not modify airbag effect for passengers (p = 0.81) or drivers (p = 0.54). Passengers with height 5'3''-5'11'' had a small protective airbag effect (risk of injury –2%, 95% CI = –1% to -3%), yet airbags appeared harmful for passengers 6'3'' (risk +5%, 95% CI +2% to +9%) and 4'11'' (risk + 4%, 95% CI = –2% to +10%). A similar, though less pronounced, relationship was found among drivers.</p>  <p>Conclusions</p>  <p>The effectiveness of airbags on serious injury depends on an occupant's height, particularly among front-seat passengers. While airbags are modestly protective for mid-stature occupants, they appear to increase the risk of injury for large and small stature adults. Occupant body weight did not modify the effect of airbags.<br /> </p>  <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1069-6563",
doi="10.1197/j.aem.2007.03.999",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1197/j.aem.2007.03.999"
}