The incidence and burden of hospital-treated sports-related injury in people aged 15+ years in Victoria, Australia, 2004-2010: a future epidemic of osteoarthritis?
OBJECTIVE
Previous sports injury is a known risk factor for subsequent osteoarthritis (OA), but population-based rates of sports injury are unknown. The aims of this study were to: (1) describe the trends in the population incidence and burden of all hospital-treated sports injury in Victoria, Australia in adults aged 15+ years; (2) determine the incidence of lower limb and knee injuries; and (3) quantify their population health burden as average direct hospital costs per injury and lengths of stay.


METHODS
Health sector data relating to adults aged 15+ years, for 2004-2010 inclusive, was extracted from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) and Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD). Data relating to sports injuries were identified using activity codes in each dataset Trends in injury frequency and rates were determined, and economic burden was calculated.


RESULTS
The overall annual rate of hospital treated sports injuries increased by 24% (P = 0.001), and lower limb injuries by 26% (P = 0.001) over the 7 years. The associated accumulated economic burden was $265 million for all sports injuries and $110 million for lower limb injuries over the 7-years.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study show a significant increase in sports injuries in the state of Victoria, Australia over a 7-year period. As previous sports injury is a risk factor for the development of OA, the future incidence of OA will escalate, placing an even greater burden on health care systems. Population-wide preventative strategies that reduce the risk of sports injury are urgently required in order to reduce the future burden of OA.
Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP), 1 of the 9 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centres for the Prevention of Injury and Promotion of Health in Athletes Federation University Australia, SMB Campus, PO Box 668, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia. Electronic address: c.finch@federation.edu.au.
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CF
Finch
Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP), 1 of the 9 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centres for the Prevention of Injury and Promotion of Health in Athletes Federation University Australia, SMB Campus, PO Box 668, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia. Electronic address: jkemp@federation.edu.au.
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JL
Kemp
Data Systems, Data Requests and Reports, Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU), Monash Injury Research Institute, Building 70, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: angela.clapperton@monash.edu.
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AJ
Clapperton
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
Arthritis; Epidemiology; Osteoarthritis; Sports injury