Comparison of preventive effect of seat belt on traumatic brain injury by age in motor vehicle collision

ABSTRACT

Objective@#This study examined whether the preventive effects of the safety belt on traumatic brain injury (TBI) from motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) differ according to the occupants’ age. @*Methods@#This study was a retrospective, observational study. This study evaluated the crash data from 2011 to 2016 obtained from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance registry. The injured occupants were categorized by age into young adults (age, 18-35 years; n=35,032), middle-aged adults (age, 36-55 years; n=34,507), and older adults (aged older than 55 years, n=21,895). The primary (TBI), secondary (intensive care unit [ICU] admission), and tertiary endpoint (mortality) were set. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of subgroups were calculated for study outcomes adjusted for any potential confounders. @*Results@#Among 91,434 patients, 61,205 used seat belts at the time of the crashes. Compared to the unbelted group, the belted group was less likely to have a TBI. A comparison of the aOR of subgroups for TBI revealed the odds ratio reduction to be the highest in young adults (aOR, 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.47), followed by middle-aged adults (aOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.33-0.47) and older adults (aOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.42-0.56). In addition, seat belt use had a preventive effect on ICU admission and mortality at all subgroups, the effect of which decreased with age. @*Conclusion@#The protective effects of seat belts on TBI, ICU admission, and mortality from MVCs were reduced with age.