[Differences between immediate and 30-day deaths due to traffic injuries according to forensic sources].
OBJECTIVE
To study immediate (same day of the collision) and delayed (within 30 days of the collision) deaths due to traffic injuries in Catalonia (Spain) according to forensic sources and to assess the differences between the two kinds of deaths.


METHODS
An observational study was conducted of all the traffic accident deaths registered in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Catalonia between January 1(st) 2005 and December 31(st) 2014. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS v.18.0 statistical package. Comparisons of proportions were based on the χ(2) test.


RESULTS
During the study period, 4044 deaths due to traffic injuries were recorded. Deaths within 30 days included more women, minors, elderly people, and pedestrians than immediate deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Traffic injury deaths in the 30 days following a crash differ from immediate deaths.
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Departament de Justícia, Generalitat de Catalunya, Tarragona, España; Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus (Tarragona), España. Electronic address: eneko.barberia@xij.gencat.cat.
Eneko
E
Barbería
Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España; Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
Josep M
JM
Suelves
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Departament de Justícia, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España; Departament de Salut Pública, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
Alexandre
A
Xifró
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Departament de Justícia, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
Jordi
J
Medallo
D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014798:Vital Statistics; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
Accidente de tráfico; Forensic medicine; Lesiones; Medicina forense; Mortalidad; Mortality; Public health; Salud pública; Traffic accidents; Wounds and injuries