title: The economic and logistical burden of care for severe work-related injuries in a level 1 tertiary care trauma referral center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work-related injuries (WRIs) represent a significant economic and logistical burden to healthcare systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with severe WRIs (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥ 12) (1995 to 2013) were compared with patients with non-WRIs using standard methodology (P < .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,270 (8.5%) trauma admissions were for severe WRIs (mean age = 45 years, male:female ratio = 2.8:1, mean ISS = 22.7). Compared with patients with non-WRIs, WRI patients were younger, male, and had fewer comorbidities. Despite equivalent ISS, WRIs had a longer intensive care unit length of stay, length of mechanical ventilation, and number of surgical/operative procedures. Fewer patients with WRIs died in hospital and more were discharged home without support services. The acute care economic burden of WRIs was higher (because of intensive care unit and operating theatre, and physician compensation) (all analyses, P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with WRIs were younger, less comorbid, male, and had significantly higher utilization of acute care resources despite a similar ISS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada.
authors.forename: Connal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robertson-More
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada.
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada. Electronic address: Ball.Chad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chad G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012042:Registries; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014193:Trauma Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cost; Economic analysis; Trauma; Work-related injuries