title: Long-term outcomes of individuals injured in motor vehicle crashes: A population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite decline in U.S. traffic fatalities, non-fatal injuries remain a main cause of reduced self-reported health. The authors used a nationally representative survey to examine the long-term (≥1 year) implications of traffic injuries on self-care, depression, mobility, pain and activity domains of a widely used measure assessing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  30,576 participants from panels (2000-2002) of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were followed for about two years. The associations between reporting a traffic injury in the first follow-up year and the five domains of the Euroqol Health index (EQ-5D) were assessed using mixed logistic models with outcome severe/moderate problem in each domain. Models adjustment variables included age, gender, education, income, diabetes, asthma, smoking and insurance status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  590 participants reported traffic injuries. In the first follow-up analysis, having an injury was associated with deficits in all domains of the EQ-5D. With the exception of self-care, similar findings were reported in the second follow-up (≥1 year) after injuries with strongest associations between traffic injuries and both mobility and activity (both OR=2.9, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traffic injuries are significantly associated with long-term reduced HRQOL. Injured individuals may benefit from early intervention programs to prevent the development of secondary complications and reduced HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, HH 598 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, KAIMRC, KSAU-HS, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Ghnams@ngha.med.sa.
authors.forename: Suliman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alghnam
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wegener
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E8138, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Kavi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E3539, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colantuoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, HH 544 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Renan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D003289:Convalescence / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Burden of injury; EQ-5D; Health-related quality of life; Motor vehicle crashes; Trauma outcome