Motorcycle-related hospitalizations in the United States, 2001.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of motorcycle-related hospitalization in the United States in 2001 and to describe the demographic, clinical, hospital, and financial characteristics associated with these injuries.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of the 2001 Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project was conducted in 2003.


RESULTS
There were an estimated 30,505 (confidence interval=26,566-34,445) motorcycle-related hospital discharges in 2001. Approximately 62% of cases were aged > or =30 years, and males accounted for 89% of cases. The most common principal diagnoses were fractures of the lower limb (29.4%), fractures of the upper limb (13.1%), and intracranial injuries (12.3%). The mean length of stay was 5 days, the median hospital charge was $15,404, and the total estimated hospital charges were >$841 million. The majority of patients (56.5%) were admitted to large urban teaching hospitals, and these hospitals accounted for nearly 70% of all hospital charges. Approximately 26% of cases were self-pay or listed public insurance as the expected payer.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings shed light on the substantial morbidity and financial impact of motorcycle-related injuries. Renewed and strengthened prevention efforts are warranted.
Coben
Jeffrey H
JH
Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, USA. jcoben@hsc.wva.edu
Steiner
Claudia A
CA
Owens
Pamela
P
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology