Pattern and Trend of Injuries Among Trauma Unit Attendants in Upper Egypt

Background: Injury is a growing public health problem worldwide. Deaths due to injuries account for ۱۰% of the world’s mortality. More than ۹۰% of the world’s injury deaths occur in low and middle income countries. In Egypt, injury is a hidden epidemic and its related deaths are misclassified due to lack of accurate national data. Furthermore, as a research problem it has also been largely ignored in developing countries. Objectives: To determine the pattern and trend of injury from January ۲۰۰۲ to December ۲۰۰۹ among attendants at trauma unit in Assiut university hospital in Upper Egypt. Patients and Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted at the trauma unit in Assiut university hospital in Upper Egypt. All registered injuries during January ۲۰۰۲ to December ۲۰۰۹ were included in the study. Results: During January ۲۰۰۲ to December ۲۰۰۹, ۲۱۳۸۳۵ injured cases were admitted to the trauma unit. The number of attendants increased every year from ۹.۳% from the total cases in all study period in ۲۰۰۲ up to ۱۵.۳% in ۲۰۰۹ with a statistically significant difference (P = ۰.۰۰۰). Young adults aged ۲۰ - ۲۹ years were the most common group affected by injuries (۲۲.۲%). Male to female ratio was ۳:۱. Falls represent one half of injuries (۴۹.۶%) from all attended cases, followed by exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (۱۹.۵%) and transport accidents (۱۸.۳%). Falls were ranked as the leading cause of injuries, while transport accidents were the second cause in ۲۰۰۷ - ۲۰۰۹. Conclusions: Trauma in Upper Egypt is an under-recognized problem, which requires prioritized attention. Increasing the awareness of community, making policies and establishment of a trauma system are important to decrease the burden of injuries.

کلیدواژه ها:

pattern ، Injuries ، Trauma Unit ، Egypt