An epidemiological study of non-fatal pedestrian injuries

The objectives were to identify risk groups, risk environments, contributory factors, and consequences with regard to non-fatal pedestrian injuries in a defined population. The study group comprised all patients living in the county of Vastmanland, Sweden, who had visited a physician or dentist because of non-fatal injury during one year. Pedestrian injuries were found to account for 41% of all injuries in the traffic area. The greatest risk of sustaining an injury was faced by females aged 50 years or older, and by males aged 10-29. Wintery conditions were clearly associated with increased injury rates, with 51% of injuries incurred during November to January. Falls were involved in 82% of the injuries, mostly from slipping, particularly in urban areas. Fractures were more common among persons aged 50 or older, while sprains predominated at younger ages. Persons who had slipped often made more than one visit to a hospital emergency department, and were hospitalized more often than those who had stumbled. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.