The injury mechanism spectra and injury pyramids among children and adolescents in Zhuhai City, China

• DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-25311/v1
• Publication Date: 2020-04-29T19:12:10Z
• Authors: Xiling Yin; Wencan Dai; Yukai Du; Deyun Li
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

Abstract Background: The unclear spectra and severity of injuries in the injury pyramids for Chinese children and adolescents prevent the prioritization interventions. This study aimed to describe the injury mechanism spectra and injury pyramids in this population to provide a priority for injury prevention strategies.Methods: Death, hospitalization, and outpatient/emergency department visit data from patients aged 0~17 years with injuries were obtained from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017, in Zhuhai City, China. The injury mechanism ratios were calculated, and the injury pyramids were drawn in proportion by using injury mortality and the incidence of both injury hospitalizations and outpatient/emergency department injury visits.Results: The top three mechanisms for injuries in children and adolescents seen in outpatient/emergency departments were falls (52.02%), animal bites (14.57%), and blunt injuries (10.60%). The top three mechanisms for injury hospitalizations were falls (37.33%), road traffic injuries (17.87%), and fire/burns (14.29%), while the top three mechanisms for injury deaths were drowning (32.91%), road traffic injuries (20.25%) and falls (13.92%). The incidence rate of outpatient/emergency department injury visits for children and adolescents was 11210.87/100,000; the incidence rate of injury hospitalization was 627.09/100,000, and the injury death rate was 10.70/100,000. For each injury death, there were 59 injury hospitalizations and 1,047 outpatient/emergency injury visits.Conclusions: The injury spectra were different for injury-related outpatient/emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths among children and adolescents. The different sexes had different injury spectra at different stages of child development, and interventions should be formulated based on this finding. The size and shape of the injury pyramids varied by age, sex, region, and injury mechanisms; minor nonfatal injuries were more common in children and adolescents. The differences in the severity and extent of the injuries suggested that injury interventions in Chinese children and adolescents still have a long way to go.