Age as a Predictive Factor in Severity of Injuries in Riders of Electric Bikes and Powered Scooters: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

The growth in worldwide popularity of electric bikes (E-bikes) and powered scooters (P-scooters) has been accompanied by an increase in injuries associated with their use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of rider age to injury severity, represented by need for hospitalization. A retrospective review of the database of a tertiary medical center yielded 1234 patients (75.7% male) who attended the emergency department (ED) in 2014−2020 for injuries sustained while riding an E-bike or P-scooter. Mean age was 31.52 ± 14.77 years: 23% were aged <20 years; 33%, 21−30 years; 23%, 31−40 years; 10%, 41−50 years; 11%, >51 years. Ninety patients (7.3%) were hospitalized. Older age was significantly associated with the need for hospitalization on univariate analysis (p <.001), but significance was not maintained on binary logistic regression (OR = 1.02, 95%CI 0.99−1.06; p = 0.11). Patients who underwent imaging evaluation in the ED were at lower risk of hospitalization, and patients who had surgery or a relatively long operative procedure were at higher risk of hospitalization. The study shows that older age (>51 years) is not associated with a significantly increased probability of severe injury in E-bike and P-scooter riders. This finding has important implications for insurers and healthcare administrators.

Trends in the Incidence and Severity of Injuries Sustained by Riders of Electric Bikes and Powered Scooters: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: The worldwide increase in electric bike (E-bike) and powered scooter (P-scooter) use in recent years has been accompanied by an increase in associated injuries to riders. The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in the incidence and types of E-bikes and P-scooter-related injuries in riders evacuated to a tertiary ED. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional design was used. The cohort included 1234 patients referred to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary medical center in 2014-2020 for injuries sustained while riding an E-bike or P-scooter. Demographic, clinical, and injury data were collected from the medical files, and injury rates were evaluated over time. Results: The results showed that the annual number of ED visits by injured E-bike and P-scooter riders increased steadily over the study period concomitant with an increase in ED referrals for hospitalization, indicating severe injury. The upper and lower extremities were the most frequent anatomic sites of injury in every year of the study, with variations among the different age groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a need for safety regulations for riders who operate two-wheel powered vehicles, such as licensing requirements and mandatory protective gear, especially for anatomic sites most at risk.

Impact of Drug and Alcohol Use on Hospitalization for Injuries in Riders of Electric Bikes or Powered Scooters: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

The growing popularity of E-bikes and P-scooters has led to their increasing involvement in injuries. This study sought to evaluate the impact of drug and alcohol consumption on hospitalization rates for electric-vehicle-associated injuries. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used, including patients evacuated to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary medical center in 2014−2020 for injuries sustained while riding E-bikes or P-scooters. Data on clinical characteristics were collected from the medical files, including pre-accident usage of alcohol or drugs. Of the 1234 patients (75.7% male) who met the inclusion criteria, 90 (7.3%) were hospitalized. The mean (SD) number of admission days was 5.44 (±0.12). Alcohol consumption was associated with 2.2% of injuries and drug use with 0.6%. Patients who rode under the influence of alcohol were significantly more likely to be hospitalized than discharged (6.7% vs. 1.8%, χ2 (2) =19.25, p < 0.001); the odds ratio was 14.1. A similar association with hospitalization was found for drug use (χ2 (2) = 7.83, p = 0.02). Riding an E-bike or P-scooter under the influence of alcohol or drugs increases the probability of severe injury requiring hospital admission. These results should prompt the relevant authorities to initiate effective legislation of alcohol and drug use.

Impact of Comorbidities on Hospitalization for Injuries in Riders of Electric Bikes and Powered Scooters: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Injuries associated with electric bikes (E-bikes) and powered scooters (P-scooters) have increased yearly worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the impact of pre-existing comorbidities on the probability of hospitalization for injuries in riders of E-bikes and P-scooters. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. The cohort included patients referred to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary medical center in 2014-2020 for injuries sustained while riding an E-bike or P-scooter. Data were collected from the medical files on demographics, clinical characteristics including pre-existing comorbidities and permanent use of medications, and injury characteristics. Findings were compared between patients referred for hospitalization from the ED and patients discharged home. Results: Of the 1234 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 202 (16.4%) had a prior medical condition and 167 (13.5%) were taking medication on a permanent basis. A significant relationship was found between hospitalization and having a medical condition (𝜒2(1) = 9.20, p = 0.002) or taking medication on a permanent basis (𝜒2(1) = 6.24, p = 0.01). Hospitalization for injuries was more likely in patients with a comorbidity (27.8%) than those without a comorbidity (15.5%), and in patients who were on permanent drug therapy (22.2%) than in patients who were not (12.9%). Surprisingly, anticoagulant intake specifically had no effect on the probability of hospital admission. Conclusions: Patients with comorbidities have a higher incidence of hospitalization for E-bike- and P-scooter-associated injuries. Therefore, physicians may take into account comorbidities for the effective management of this patient group's injuries.