TY - JOUR PY - 1990// TI - Injuries in the elderly sustained in the traffic environment JO - Proceedings: Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine Annual Conference A1 - Sjogren, Harmeet A1 - Bjornstig, Ulf SP - 41 EP - 55 VL - 34 IS - N2 - All aged 60 or over (297 persons), injured (all causes) in the traffic environment, and treated as in- and out-patients at the Regional Hospital in Umea, over a one-year period, were analyzed. Injuries were grouped into three main categories: fall injuries (52%), vehicle-associated injuries (44%), and "other" injuries (4%). Two thirds of the fall injuries involved slipping on ice and snow. The main groups in the vehicle-associated injury category were cyclists (48%), car occupants (34%), other vehicle occupants (14%), and pedestrians (4%). Vehicle-associated injuries became more common with advancing age, resulted in the most severe and critical (MAIS ≥4) injuries and the most fatalities, and cost (total and mean) more than fall injuries. In conclusion, from the injury cost point of view, it is most important to prevent vehicle-associated injuries. However, when total frequencies are considered, fall injuries deserve to be given just as much priority in injury prevention programs as vehicle-associated injuries, to make the traffic environment safer for this growing population.

LA - SN - 1540-0344 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -