Factors related to healthcare costs of road traffic accidents in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors related to overall healthcare costs of road traffic accidents in Bucaramanga, Colombia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through the analysis of road traffic accident records that took place in 2019 in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Cost quartiles in dollars were compared using Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. Odds ratios were also calculated in logistic regression. RESULTS: 3,150 road accidents were reported in 2019 involving 7,038 people, of which 812 had information related to healthcare costs in health care institutions. The median cost was 56.59 USD (RI = 29.35-140.15), average cost of 290.11 USD ± 731.22 (95%CI: 239.74-340.48). A higher possibility to be in the 4th quartile was found when persons were under 18 years of age (OR = 4.88; 95%CI: 1.30-18.32) or 46-60 years (OR = 3.66; 95%CI: 1.01-13.30), the type of vehicle involved is motorcycle (OR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.25-6.24), bicycle (OR = 7.66; 95%CI: 2.70-21.68), having a head injury (OR = 4.50; 95%CI: 2.61-7.76) and hypothetical drunk driving (OR = 12.44; 95%CI: 2.01-76.87). CONCLUSIONS: Relevant factors in healthcare costs were riding a motorcycle or bicycle, having a head injury, being under 18 years of age or 46 to 60 years of age and hypothetical drunk driving. It is important to implement prevention measures based on identified factors to reduce road accident rate and therefore, its socioeconomic costs.

Carga de enfermedad por lesiones de causas externas en Bucaramanga, Colombia 2017 / Burden of disease by external causes of injury in Bucaramanga, Colombia 2017

Resumen Introducción: Las lesiones por causa externa son uno de los principales problemas de salud pública en el mundo, y la metodología estandarizada de carga de enfermedad a través de los años de vida saludable perdidos (AVISAS) permite conocer el estado de salud poblacional y priorizar acciones. Objetivo: Determinar la carga de enfermedad en términos de discapacidad y muerte como consecuencia de lesiones por causas externas en Bucaramanga, 2017. Diseño metodológico: Estudio descriptivo de carga de la enfermedad. Se estimó los AVISAS producidos por LCE utilizando las bases de datos del Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadísticas, Sistema de Nacional de Vigilancia en Salud Pública y Registro Individual de la Prestación de Servicios de Salud, del año 2017, de la ciudad de Bucaramanga. Resultados: Se estimó una carga global de enfermedad por LCE de 12,04 AVISAS por cada 1000 personas; 0,51 AVISAS atribuibles a discapacidad y 11,53 AVISAS, a mortalidad. Las agresiones y accidentes de tránsito (AT) son las dos principales LCE con mayor número de AVISAS. En la población de 5-59 años las agresiones y AT presentan AVISAS por mortalidad de mayor peso; los AT son la principal causa externa en la población de 60 a 79 años y la segunda en mayores de 80 años. Conclusiones: Considerando que los AT fueron la causa externa con las más altas AVISAS atribuidas a mortalidad prematura, se recomienda implementar o intensificar estrategias de alto impacto que contribuyan a disminuir los AT.

Abstract Introduction: Injuries due to external causes are one of the main worldwide public health problems. The standardized methodology to evaluate burden diseases through the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) allows us to know the health condition in a population and prioritize actions. Objective: To determine the burden of disease in terms of disability and death as consequence of injuries due to external causes in Bucaramanga, 2017. Methodology: Descriptive study was conducted. The DALYs produced by injuries due to external causes were estimated using information from the National Administrative Department of Statistics, the National Public Health Surveillance System and the Individual Registry of Service Provision of Health databases from 2017 for the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Results: The global burden of diseases due to external causes was estimated at 12.04 DALYs per 1000 inhabitants; 0.51 DALYs were attributed to disability and 11.53 DALYs to mortality. Assaults and road traffic accident injuries (RTAI) were the main external causes with higher DALYs. In the population between 5 and 59 years old, assaults and RTAI had the highest DALYs attributed to mortality. RTAI were the first external cause of DALYSs in the population between 60 and 79 years old, and the second cause in the population older than 80 years. Conclusion: Considering that RTAI was the external cause with the highest DALYs attributed to premature mortality, it is recommended to implement or intensify high-impact strategies to reduce RTAI.