Motor car crashes are a major cause of deaths, hospitalisations and health related costs worldwide. However, little is known regarding the long-term health-related outcomes and disability following injury-producing crashes, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. A systematic review of the published literature was undertaken to assess the available evidence estimating (a) the extent of disability following involvement in car crashes, and (b) the extent of disability attributable to car crashes. Three studies fulfilled the selection criteria. In these, the estimated prevalence of "disability" among car occupants varied between 22 and 39 percent at 6-12 months following the crash. However, the review exposed significant limitations in the scientific rigour of these studies, relating to study design, biases and analyses, seriously threatening the reliability and validity of the published research. Research studies published to date have major methodological deficiencies, which limit their usefulness and validity in determining the societal burden of car crashes. This gap in scientific knowledge demands early attention to better inform transport, public health and social policy, and ensure appropriate resource allocation for preventive interventions. (A)
Abstract