Mortality of injured motorcyclists in traffic accident in São José dos Campos city, Brazil, in 2015: cohort study

Abstract

Objective. To analyze factors associated with mortality from traumatic injuries among motorcyclists. Methods. Prospective cohort conducted at the Municipal Hospital of São José dos Campos in 2015. Motorcyclists with traumatic injuries, ≥14 years old, hospitalized, were included. Sociodemographic, accident and hospitalization variables were verified applying Possion regression model presented by risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results. Among 190 motorcyclists, 161 (84.7%) young men revealed 422 (41.8%) injuries in the lower and upper extremities. The death incidence was higher with an increase in the physiological trauma severity (RR=9.67 [95%CI 1.46;64.26]; and RR=4.71 [95%CI 1.36;16.26]), and anatomical severity (RR=31.49 [95%CI 3.72;266.38]), but it was lower up to one week of hospitalization (RR=0.39 [95%CI 0.15;0.98]). Conclusion. Trauma severity and length of hospital stay were associated with death of motorcyclists. Further studies should be conducted to confirm these findings and to analyze the relationships in greater detail.