title: [Injuries in emergency rooms of urban areas in Mexico: prevalence and severity].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify frequency and severity of injuries by type of external cause in people attending emergency services for medical attention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study held in the cities of Guadalajara, Colima and Mexico City, from September 2007 to February 2008. All people requiring emergency medical attention due to injuries were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  sex, age, anatomical area of the injury, type of injury, external cause, type of aggressor and severity according to the abbreviated injury scale. Statistical analysis was univariate simple and multivariate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26.3% of the emergency medical attention was due to injuries, with the main cause being falls (49.3%). Individuals from 15 to 44 years (55.8%) reported a higher frequency, while those over 60 years presented the most serious injuries. Associated variables to severity were interpersonal aggression (OR 6.7, IC 95% 4.20-10.69) and road traffic injuries (OR 3.00, IC 95% 1.72-5.23). Conclusions. Accidental and intentional injuries represent an important demand of emergency medical attention; with interpersonal aggression and road traffic injuries being responsible for the highest number of serious injuries.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, IMSS de Jalisco.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avila-Burgos
authors.forename: Carmelita Elizabeth
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ventura-Alfaro
authors.forename: Elisa del Carmen
authors.initials: Edel C
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-Solórzano
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hijar-Medina
authors.forename: Belkis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aracena-Genao
authors.forename: Alfredo de Jesús
authors.initials: Ade J
authors.lastname: Celis-de la Rosa
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult