Trends in incidence of pediatric injury hospitalizations in Pennsylvania.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed short-term trends in pediatric injury hospitalizations.


METHODS
We used a population-based retrospective cohort design to study all children 15 years or younger who were admitted to all acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania with traumatic injuries between 1991 and 1995.


RESULTS
Injuries accounted for 9% of all acute hospitalizations for children. Between 1991 and 1995, admissions of children with minor injuries decreased by 29% (P < .001). However, admissions for children with moderate (P = .69) or serious (P = .41) injuries did not change.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant declines in pediatric admissions for minor injuries were noted and may reflect both real reductions in injury incidence and changes in admission practices over the period of the study.
Durbin
D R
DR
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa., USA. ddurbin@cceb.med.upenn.edu
Schwarz
D F
DF
Localio
A R
AR
MacKenzie
E J
EJ
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control