Functional Consequences of Road Traffic Injuries: Preliminary Results from PERSIAN Traffic Cohort (PTC)

Introduction: Traffic injuries are one of the main causes of death worldwide. After decreasing mortality rates and improving the recovery of injured patients, long-term functional consequences need to be addressed. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional outcomes of road traffic injuries and their predictors six months after hospital discharge, based on the preliminary results from PTC.Methods: A cross-sectional study based on PERSIAN Traffic Health and Safety Cohort Study was performed. Data were collected using the ۱۲-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule ۲.۰ (WHODAS ۲.۰) with six domains (cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along with others, life activities, and participation), filled-in by ۱۸۰ injured adults (age >۱۸ years) at six-month follow-up after hospital discharge during October ۲۰۱۹. These patients were hospitalized after road accidents at two referral trauma centers, (from ۲۳ September ۲۰۱۸ to ۲۰ March ۲۰۱۹).Results: The majority of participants were men (۸۲.۷%), (Mean age =۳۸.۸). The mean score of WHODAS ۲.۰ was ۱۷.۸) SD=۹.۱). The highest score was estimated for the self-care dimension ۳.۳ (SD=۱.۸), and the lowest score for getting along with others ۲.۴ (SD=۱.۲). Age, gender, physiotherapy, injury localization including head and face, spinal cord, and upper extremity were predictors of WHODAS ۲.۰ score in various dimensions (p<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The current study identified some functional disabilities among patients sustaining road traffic injuries. It is evident from the results that a proportion of patients do not recover six months after the injury and suffer a disability, especially in self-care, mobility, and life activities, which potentially prevent them from returning to normalcy. In addition, age, gender, physiotherapy, injury localization was related to WHODAS ۲.۰ scores.

Keywords:

Accidents , road traffic injury , Traffic Accidents , functional status , WHODAS ۲.۰ , Cohort studies