Disability among adults injured in motor-vehicle crashes in the United States.
BACKGROUND
Little population-based information exists about the long-term effects of motor-vehicle crash-related injuries.


METHODS
We analyzed data from the 1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability (NHIS-D) Supplement to estimate the prevalence of crash-related disability among noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged 18 years and older.


RESULTS
More than 1.2 million adults were living in their homes with the disabling effects of motor-vehicle crash-related injuries in 1995. The prevalence of crash-related disability was highest for persons in their mid-life years, ages 35-64. Half of the respondents had sustained the injuries more than 5 years before the interview. Forty-one percent of working-aged individuals reported being unable to work because of their disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Because crash-related disability is most prevalent during the mid-life years, quality of life and productivity may be affected for decades. These findings highlight the personal and societal burden associated with motor-vehicle crash-related disability in the United States.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. rshults@cdc.gov
Ruth A
RA
Shults
Bruce H
BH
Jones
Marcie-jo
MJ
Kresnow
Jean A
JA
Langlois
Janet L
JL
Guerrero
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*