Economic impact of injuries according to type of injury.
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of the economic impact of injuries that occurred within a year in Motala district -- a World Health Organization Safe Community.


METHODS
A survey of all types of injury that occurred in an area with the total population of over 41,000 within a 12-month period (October 1, 1983, to September 30, 1984). All injuries that required medical care were noted. Included in the costs of injuries were the marginal costs to medical care, companies, and the health insurance system.


RESULTS
There were 4,926 injuries that required medical care. The costs of injuries were SEK 23.7 million (US$3.59 million) for the health care service (outpatient care, including primary health care and hospital care), SEK 79.7 million (US$12.08 million) for trade and industry, and SEK 9.1 million (US$1.38 million) for health insurance system. Home injuries accounted for the largest share of community costs (29%). Men accounted for the highest share of both the cost to the community (59%) and health insurance expenditures (70%) for injuries. In case of home injuries, the cost of medical care dominated among women (46%), whereas company costs dominated among men (77%). Serious injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale - AIS-3) accounted for 16% of the total cost to the community, but constituted only 3% of all injuries. Moderate injuries (AIS-2) accounted for 69% of the cost and made up 48% of the injuries, whereas minor injuries (AIS-1) accounted for 12% of the cost and constituted 49% of all injuries. Injuries to the extremities accounted in all for 74% of the cost to the community.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost of injuries can be analyzed in relation to different characteristics of injuries, which can provide a comprehensive view of the injury profile and its economic impact according to the type of injury.
Department of Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden. kenli@ihm.liu.se
Kent
K
Lindqvist
D000056:Accident Prevention; D002423:Cause of Death; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D018582:Sick Leave; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014944:World Health Organization; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology