The objective of the study presented in this scientific poster is to define the incidence of mental disorder (MD) co-morbid condition among patients admitted to hospital as a result of motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries, and to identify the correlation between MD and single vehicle crashes among drivers. Of a total of 123,006 hospital admissions in Pennsylvania in 1997 as a result of injury, 13,805 were for MVC patients. 13,313 cases had at least one injury diagnosis assigned. The incidence rates of MD co-morbid condition among drivers and non-drivers were as follows: drivers 16.14/100,000 inhabitants, non-drivers 9.14/100,000 inhabitants. It is concluded that the presence of a co-morbid MD is more common among drivers than non-drivers who are admitted to hospital as a result of their injuries. Drivers admitted as a result of injury are more likely to have sustained their injury in a single vehicle crash if they have a co-morbid MD. The paper provides evidence that the presence of a co-morbid MD among drivers may be a contributing risk factor towards MVCs resulting in serious injuries, and that it increases the likelihood of single vehicle crash as the mechanism of injury.
Samenvatting