Association of age and severe injury in young motorcycle riders: A cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan. Issue 9 (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khan, Uzma Rahim; Razzak, Junaid A; Jooma, Rashid; Wärnberg, Martin Gerdin
• Is Part Of: Injury. Volume 53:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 3019
• Page End: 3024
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Road traffic injury -- Underage driving -- Motorcycle riders -- Pakistan -- Low middle-income country; Wounds and injuries -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Periodicals; Wounds and Injuries -- surgery -- Periodicals; Lésions et blessures -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 617.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.04.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-1383

Abstract

Highlights: Injuries in underage motorcycle riders are common, but there is limited literature available for the association of underage with severe injuries in lower middle-income countries where there is high motorcycle use. A total of 45, 366 young motorcycle riders aged 13–24 years who were injured in road traffic crashes and went to the emergency rooms of five hospitals over a period of 9 years were included in this analysis. Motorcycle riders who were underage (13–17 years) and those who were newly licensed (18-19 years) had 1.3 times higher odds of severe injuries than those who were not newly licensed (20–24 years). Abstract: Introduction: The burden imposed by motorcyclist deaths and injuries is high in low- and middle-income countries. Many injured motorcycle riders in these settings are underage. The aim of this study was to assess the association between age and severe injury in young motorcycle riders. Methods: We analysed road traffic injury surveillance data from the emergency rooms of five hospitals in Karachi from 2007 to 2015. We used logistic regression to assess the association of motorcycle riders' age, categorised as underage (13-17 years), early licensing age (18-19 years) and late licensing age (20-24 years), with severe injury, defined as an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16. Results: The study sample included 45, 366 motorcycle riders. There were 10115 (22.3%) motorcycle riders aged 13-17 years, 9899 (21.8%) aged 18-19 years and 25352 (55.9%) aged 20-24 years. Almost all were male (99%). Being aged 13-17 years (adjusted odds ratio 1.25; 95% CI 1.11, 1.42) and 18-19 years (adjusted odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI 1.10, 1.43) were associated with higher odds of severe injury compared with being aged 20-24 years. Conclusion: Motorcycle riders who presented to the hospital with injuries after road traffic crashes and were aged 13-17 years and 18-19 years had significantly higher odds of severe injury than those aged 20-24 years.