Comparing the impact of socio-demographic factors associated with traffic injury among older road users and the general population in Japan.
BACKGROUND
The increasing number of older road users represents a public health issue because older individuals are more susceptible to traffic injury and mortality than the general population. This study investigated the association between socio-demographic factors and traffic injury and traffic mortality for the general population and among older road users in Japan.


METHODS
An ecological study was conducted using national data in Japan. Multivariate regression methods were applied to investigate the association of traffic injury and traffic mortality for the general population and among older road users with significant demographic, economic, road traffic, and medical/cultural factors.


RESULTS
Income per capita, total road length, and alcohol consumption per person were significantly associated with traffic injury and traffic mortality both for the general population and among older road users in Japan. Income per capita and alcohol consumption per person were negatively associated with traffic mortality for both groups. Meanwhile, for both groups, income per capita was positively associated with traffic injury, while total road length and alcohol consumption per person were negatively associated with traffic injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of socio-demographic factors on traffic injury and traffic mortality in Japan were similar for both the general population and older road users. The study results suggest that injury preventive measures designed for the general population will be beneficial also for older road users in Japan.
Karolinska Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Global Health, Stockholm, Sweden. nagata.takashi@gmail.com
Takashi
T
Nagata
Ayako
A
Takamori
Hans-Yngve
HY
Berg
Marie
M
Hasselberg
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*