Seasonal variations in injury rates in children: evidence from a 10-year study in the Veneto Region, Italy.
The objective of this study was to investigate the long term trend of pediatric injuries in Veneto Region (North-East of Italy) over 10 years, evaluating if seasonality in injury hospitalisations exists. Regional data on hospital admissions during the period 2000-2009 were analysed. Injury was defined as any condition identified by the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 800-999, excluding late effects from injury (ICD-9-CM codes 905-909), and complications of surgical and medical care, not classified elsewhere (ICD-9-CM code 995-999) in the first diagnostic field. Cyclic trends in seasonality of injuries were tested with Nam test. Thirty-five thousand seven hundred and fifty-one hospitalisations due to an injury have been recorded. Significant seasonal variation in hospitalisations for injuries was observed, with a summer to winter ratio ranging from 1.8 for minor injuries to 2.0 for severe injuries (p <0.001). The observed pattern of increased admission in the summer months should guide resource planning and implementation of preventive strategies.
a Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences , University of Padova , Italy.
Francesca
F
Foltran
Francesco
F
Avossa
Ugo
U
Fedeli
Ileana
I
Baldi
Paolo
P
Spolaore
Dario
D
Gregori
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*