Treatment Costs of Traffic Accident Casualties in a Third-level Hospital in Iran; a Preliminary Study.
BACKGROUND
The costs of traffic accidents in low- and middle-income countries are estimated to add up to $65 billion annually, which is a little higher than the amount they receive as a final aid for development. The present retrospective study aims to evaluate the treatment costs of the hospitalized injured individuals in traffic accidents.


METHODS
The present study was carried out in Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The study population consisted of all the individuals injured in traffic accidents, admitted to the hospital wards. Data were collected by a trained emergency physician. Demographic data, injury mechanism, the type of vehicle, the admission ward of the patient, and treatment costs were collected.


RESULTS
200 patient files were evaluated (males: 89%). The results showed that 54% of the patients were in the 18-40-year age group and collisions between cars and motorcycles were the most frequent accidents (47%). The mean hospitalization cost for each patient was estimated to be $1622.1. Statistical analyses showed that treatment costs in the neurosurgery ward was significantly higher than orthopedic and general surgery (df: 3; F=9.5, P=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study showed that the mean cost of each traffic accident victim in Tehran is approximately $1622.1 and these patients sustain significantly higher costs in neurosurgery ward.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Manouchehrifar
Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamid Reza
HR
Hatamabadi
Department of Pediatrics, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Niloufar
N
Derakhshandeh
Health care costs; hospitalization; traffic accidents