Road traffic accidents: Global Burden of Disease study, Brazil and federated units, 1990 and 2015

Trends in traffic accident mortality and social inequalities in Ecuador from 2011 to 2022

BACKGROUND

Traffic accidents (TA) remain a significant global public health concern, impacting low-and middle-income countries. This study aimed to describe the trend in TA mortality and inequalities in Ecuador for 2011-2022, distributed by year, gender, age group, geographical location, type of accident, and social inequalities.

METHODS

An ecological study was conducted using INEC national-level data on TA fatalities in Ecuador. Mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 population and analyzed by year, gender, age group, geographic region, and accident type. Annual percentage variation (APV) was determined using linear regression models. Inequality analyses examined associations between TA mortality and socioeconomic factors like per capita income and literacy rates. Complex measures such as the Slope Inequality Index (SII) were calculated to assess the magnitude of inequalities.

RESULTS

There were 38,355 TA fatalities in Ecuador from 2011 to 2022, with an overall mortality rate of 19.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. The rate showed a non-significant decreasing trend (APV - 0.4%, p = 0.280). Males had significantly higher mortality rates than females (31.99 vs. 7.19 per 100,000), with the gender gap widening over time (APV 0.85%, p = 0.003). The Amazon region had the highest rate (24.4 per 100,000), followed by the Coast (20.4 per 100,000). Adults aged ≥ 60 years had the highest mortality (31.0 per 100,000), followed by those aged 25-40 years (28.6 per 100,000). The ≥ 60 age group showed the most significant rate decrease over time (APV - 2.25%, p < 0.001). Pedestrians were the most affected group after excluding unspecified accidents, with a notable decreasing trend (APV - 5.68%, p < 0.001). Motorcyclist fatalities showed an increasing trend, ranking third in TA-related deaths. Lower literacy rates and per capita income were associated with higher TA mortality risks. Inequality in TA mortality between provinces with the highest and lowest per capita income increased by 247.7% from 2011 to 2019, as measured by the SII.

CONCLUSION

While overall TA mortality slightly decreased in Ecuador, significant disparities persist across demographic groups and geographic regions. Older adults, males, pedestrians, and economically disadvantaged populations face disproportionately higher risks. The increasing trend in motorcycle-related fatalities and widening socioeconomic inequalities are particularly concerning.

Uber use after alcohol consumption among car/motorcycle drivers in ten Brazilian capitals

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to measure the proportion of Uber use instead of drinking and driving in ten Brazilian capitals, in 2019.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was developed in ten Brazilian capitals. Data were collected in agglomeration points (AP) and sobriety checkpoints (SC). Based on responses to a standardized questionnaire, the proportion of drivers who used Uber instead of drinking and driving was measured for total sample of each methodology and stratified by municipality, age group, gender, education level, and type of vehicle. Fisher's exact test was used to make comparisons between the strata.

RESULTS

A total of 8,864 drivers were interviewed. The most used means of transport to replace driving after drinking alcohol was the Uber system (AP: 54.6%; 95%CI: 51.2-58.0. SC: 58.6%; 95%CI: 55.2-61.9). Most of these users were aged from 18 to 29 years, women, with at least one higher education degree. According to the AP methodology, the highest magnitude of this indicator was found in Vitória (ES) (71.0%; 95%CI: 63.5-77.5), whereas the lowest was observed in Teresina (PI) (33.1%; 95%CI: 22.7-45.5). According to the SC methodology, the highest magnitude of the indicator was also found in Vitória (ES) (78.3%; 95%CI: 68.8-85.5), whereas the lowest was observed in Boa Vista (RR) (36.6%; 95%CI: 26.8-47.7).

CONCLUSION

In Brazilian capitals, the study showed higher proportions of Uber use instead of drinking and driving. This type of scientific evidence on factors associated with road traffic injuries presents the potential to guide public health interventions.

Road traffic injuries and substance use in Latin America: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to identify and report the epidemiological patterns of substance use on fatal and non-fatal road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Latin America.

METHODS

A systematic review identified all published studies from January 2010 through October 2020. Twenty-eight studies were included from PubMed and SciELO databases. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies.

RESULTS

The prevalence of alcohol consumption in fatal RTIs in studies where 100% of the target population were tested varies from 15.3% up to 55% in Brazil; with respect to non-fatal RTIs, it varies from 9.1% in car drivers in Brazil to 24.1% in emergency patients in Argentina. The most studied drug other than alcohol was cannabis, present in 6.5% up to 20.8% of non-fatal RTIs cases, but lower rates of testing for drugs was reported. Few studies reported epidemiological association measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This article shows that scientific production on substance use and RTIs in the region is limited and reports the prevalence of substance use, with few estimates of the relative risk of drug use and RTIs.

Road traffic injuries and deaths and the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990 to 2019

INTRODUCTION

Brazil ranks 5th in the number of deaths due to road injuries. This study aimed to analyze mortality and disabilities resulting from road injuries in Brazil, and to assess the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of reducing deaths due to road injuries by 50% by 2030.

METHODS

This descriptive and exploratory study used the estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2019: indicators of mortality, premature deaths, and disabilities according to sex, age group, and type of transport for 1990, 2015, and 2019. Time trends in mortality rates from 1990 to 2019 were assessed, and a projection for 2030 was calculated, applying a linear regression model.

RESULTS

Deaths due to road injuries were 44,236 in 1990, and 44,529 in 2019, representing a 43% reduction in mortality rates. The highest rates were in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil, in males and young adults. A 77% reduction was observed in mortality rates for pedestrians and an increase of 53% for motorcyclists and of 54% for cyclists during the period. In terms of motorcycle road injuries, the mortality rate for men increased from 7.3/100,000 (1990) to 11.7/100,000 inhabitants (2019). The rates of premature deaths and disabilities were also higher for men when compared to women. Amputations, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and head trauma were the main types of road injuries. The projections for 2030 show that Brazil might not reach the SDG target.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the decline in mortality rates, the 2030 Agenda's target might not be achieved.

Tendência da taxa de mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito entre motociclistas no estado de São Paulo, Brasil, de 2015 a 2020

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a tendência da taxa de mortalidade de motociclistas decorrentes de lesões por acidentes de trânsito no estado de São Paulo, Brasil, nos anos de 2015 a 2020. Métodos: Estudo ecológico de delineamento de série temporal com dados secundários provenientes do Sistema de Informações Gerenciais de Acidentes de Trânsito do Estado de São Paulo (INFOSIGA), referentes aos óbitos de motociclistas decorrentes de lesões por acidentes de trânsito no estado de São Paulo, de 2015 a 2020. A variação percentual anual foi calculada pelo modelo de regressão de Prais-Winsten, utilizando o programa STATA 14.0. Resultados: Foram notificados 11.343 óbitos de motociclistas resultantes de lesões por acidentes de trânsito. A maior proporção de óbitos ocorreu entre indivíduos do sexo masculino (88,1%), entre 18 e 24 anos de idade (27,9%), nas duas regiões mais populosas e urbanizadas do estado. A distribuição da taxa de mortalidade apresentou mínima variação no período analisado, de 4,22 a 4,42 óbitos/100 mil habitantes. Entre as variáveis sociodemográficas analisadas, a tendência da mortalidade de motociclistas foi estacionária em sua maioria. Conclusão: A análise da taxa de mortalidade de motociclistas decorrentes de lesões por acidentes de trânsito no estado de São Paulo apresentou tendência estacionária.

Loss of years of healthy life due to road incidents of motorcyclists in the city of Medellin, 2012 to 2015

Objective

Determine the loss of years of healthy life due to road incidents of motorcyclists in the city of Medellin from 2012 to 2015.

Methods

Descriptive study with data on health care of injured motorcyclists and deaths adjusted with the Preston and Coale method, and OPS proportional distribution for the period 2012–2015. The years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated according to the new methodology designed for that purpose.

Results

The loss of years of healthy life due to road incidents of motorcyclists in the four-year period was 80,046 DALYs (823.8 per 100,000 inhabitants), with a higher proportion in men (81.3% and a ratio of 5 to 1 compared to women); the YLDs was 66.6% with marked differences in favor of men. There was nearly a 38% difference in the ages of 15 to 19 as well as a 19% difference from 30 to 49, compared to women. Premature death (YLLs) contributed to 33.4% of DALYs, with significant presentation in the above-mentioned age groups.

Conclusions

The greatest loss of years of healthy life due to road incidents of motorcyclists in Medellin was due to non-fatal injuries and was concentrated in young men. If the trend of motorcycle road incidents continues, both local and national road safety plans will fail to accomplish the expected results, especially among motorcycle users.

Association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) patterns and mortality: a retrospective case-control study

Background: Low and medium income countries (LMICs) such as Kenya experience nearly three times more cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared to high income countries (HICs). This is primarily exacerbated by weak health systems especially at the pre-hospital care level. Generating local empirical evidence on TBI patterns and its influence on patient mortality outcomes is fundamental in informing the design of trauma-specific emergency medical service (EMS) interventions at the pre-hospital care level. This study determines the influence of TBI patterns and mortality. Methods: This was a case-control study with a sample of 316 TBI patients. Data was abstracted from medical records for the period of January 2017 to March 2019 in three tertiary trauma care facilities in Kenya. Logistic regression was used to assess influence of trauma patterns on TBI mortality, controlling for patient characteristics and other potential confounders. Results: The majority of patients were aged below 40 years (73%) and were male (85%). Road traffic injuries (RTIs) comprised 58% of all forms of trauma. Blunt trauma comprised 71% of the injuries. Trauma mechanism was the only trauma pattern significantly associated with TBI mortality. The risk of dying for patients sustaining RTIs was 2.83 times more likely compared to non-RTI patients [odds ratio (OR) 2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-4.93, p=0.001]. The type of transfer to hospital was also significantly associated with mortality outcome, with a public hospital having a two times higher risk of death compared to a private hospital [OR 2.18 95%CI 1.21-3.94, p<0.009]. Conclusion: Trauma mechanism (RTI vs non-RTI) and type of tertiary facility patients are transferred to (public vs private) are key factors influencing TBI mortality burden. Strengthening local EMS trauma response systems targeting RTIs augmented by adequately resourced and equipped public facilities to provide quality lifesaving interventions can reduce the burden of TBIs.

Association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) patterns and mortality: a retrospective case-control study

Background: Low and medium income countries (LMICs) such as Kenya experience nearly three times more cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared to high income countries (HICs). This is primarily exacerbated by weak health systems especially at the pre-hospital care level. Generating local empirical evidence on TBI patterns and its influence on patient mortality outcomes is fundamental in informing the design of trauma-specific emergency medical service (EMS) interventions at the pre-hospital care level. This study determines the influence of TBI patterns and mortality. Methods: This was a case-control study with a sample of 316 TBI patients. Data was abstracted from medical records for the period of January 2017 to March 2019 in three tertiary trauma care facilities in Kenya. Logistic regression was used to assess influence of trauma patterns on TBI mortality, controlling for patient characteristics and other potential confounders. Results: The majority of patients were aged below 40 years (73%) and were male (85%). Road traffic injuries (RTIs) comprised 58% of all forms of trauma. Blunt trauma comprised 71% of the injuries. Trauma mechanism was the only trauma pattern significantly associated with TBI mortality. The risk of dying for patients sustaining RTIs was 2.83 times more likely compared to non-RTI patients [odds ratio (OR) 2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-4.93, p=0.001]. The type of transfer to hospital was also significantly associated with mortality outcome, with a public hospital having a two times higher risk of death compared to a private hospital [OR 2.18 95%CI 1.21-3.94, p<0.009]. Conclusion: Trauma mechanism (RTI vs non-RTI) and type of tertiary facility patients are transferred to (public vs private) are key factors influencing TBI mortality burden. Strengthening local EMS trauma response systems targeting RTIs augmented by adequately resourced and equipped public facilities to provide quality lifesaving interventions can reduce the burden of TBIs.

Traumatic brain injury hospital incidence in Brazil: an analysis of the past 10 years

Objetivo

Caracterizar os aspectos demográficos e sociais e o ônus econômico do traumatismo craniencefálico no sistema público de saúde brasileiro na última década.

Métodos

Analisaram-se os dados provenientes da base de dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde referentes ao período entre janeiro de 2008 e dezembro de 2019.

Resultados

Entre 2008 e 2019 ocorreram, em média, no Brasil, 131.014,83 internações por traumatismo craniencefálico ao ano, com incidência de 65,54 por 100 mil habitantes. Deve-se salientar a elevada incidência de traumatismo craniencefálico em adultos idosos (acima de 70 anos), acompanhada de altas taxas de mortalidade. Além disso, há também elevada incidência de traumatismo craniencefálico em adultos jovens (20 a 29 anos e 30 a 39 anos). Os dados aqui apresentados demonstram uma proporção de traumatismos craniencefálicos de 3,6 homens/mulheres.

Conclusão

Embora se acredite que os dados apresentados subestimem a incidência e mortalidade associadas com o traumatismo craniencefálico no Brasil, este estudo pode ajudar na implantação de futuras estratégias de promoção da saúde para a população brasileira e mundial, com o objetivo de diminuir a incidência, a mortalidade e os custos do traumatismo craniencefálico.

Regional Distribution of Causes of Death for Small Areas in Brazil, 1998-2017

Background: What is the spatial pattern of mortality by cause and sex in Brazil? Even considering the main causes of death, such as neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, external causes, respiratory diseases, and infectious diseases, there are still important debate regarding the spatial pattern of mortality by causes in Brazil. Evidence shows that there is an overlap in transitional health states, due to the persistence of infectious diseases (e.g., dengue, cholera, malaria, etc.,) in parallel with the increase in chronic degenerative diseases. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of three groups of causes of death in Brazil across small areas from 1998 to 2017, by sex. Methods: We use publicly available data from the System Data Mortality Information (SIM-DATASUS) from 1998 to 2017. We focus on this period due to the better quality of information, in addition to all deaths are registered following the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). We estimate standardized mortality rates by sex and cause aggregated into three main groups. We use a ternary color scheme to maximize all the information in a three-dimensional array of compositional data. Results: We find improvements in mortality from chronic degenerative diseases; faster declines are observed in the Southern regions of the country; but the persistence of high levels of mortality due to infectious diseases remained in the northern parts of the country. We also find impressive differences in external causes of deaths between males and females and an increase in mortality from these causes in the interior part of the country. Conclusions: This study provides useful information for policy makers in establishing effective measures for the prevention of deaths and public health planning for deaths from external and non-communicable causes. We observed how the distribution of causes of death varies across regions and how the patterns of mortality also vary by gender.

Relationship between GDP per capita and traffic accidents in Brazilian municipalities in 2005, 2010 and 2015

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this paper was to analyze the relation between GDP and three variables linked to traffic accidents in Brazilian municipalities: traffic accident mortality, deaths per vehicle; and vehicles per inhabitant.

METHODS

2005, 2010 and 2015 traffic accident (TA) mortality rates were estimated using a three-year moving average and were standardized; then, we applied the empirical Bayes estimator (EBE). Fatality rates (deaths per vehicle) were also based on EBE. The variable vehicles per inhabitant considered the ratio between the fleet and the population at municipal level. For every studied year, we estimated linear regression models between GDP and the interest variables.

RESULTS

The variables distribution indicates that, between 2005 and 2015, GDP and vehicles per inhabitant kept the same rising relationship. Fatality rates show a decreasing association with GDP. The distribution of mortality by TA had an inverted U-shaped pattern. The model coefficients practically did not change for the vehicle per inhabitant. Estimated association between deaths per vehicle and GDP kept the same sign, but diminished between 2005 and 2015. Model coefficient sign changed in 2015 for TA mortality.

CONCLUSION

Similar to what was observed in developed countries, the relation between mortality by traffic accidents and GDP changed in the analyzed period.

[Spatial and temporal patterns of mortality among motorcyclists in a State of the Brazilian Northeast in the 21st century]

The scope of this work was to analyze the trend and distribution of mortality among motorcyclists in traffic accidents in the State of Alagoas. It involved an ecological study relating to all deaths resulting from motorcycle accidents in the state in the period from 2001 to 2015. Mortality data were obtained from the Mortality Information System (MIS). Mortality rates were calculated and stratified by gender. The joinpoint regression model was used for trend analysis and the Annual Percentage Variation (APV) was calculated with a significance rate of 5%. For the spatial analysis, local empirical Bayesian modeling and Moran statistics and spatial scanning statistics were applied. There were 1,458 deaths of motorcyclists in the period studied, 91.3% of which were men. Three temporal behaviors were observed in this population group: growth (2001-2005), stationary pattern (2005-2013) and decline from 2013 onwards. The highest rates were observed in the 'agreste' and 'sertão' regions of the state of Alagoas. Five spatial clusters were revealed with relation to general and male mortality, all located in the 'agreste' and 'sertão' hinterlands of Alagoas. The modeling showed a reduction of mortality from 2013 onwards and the spatial analysis revealed that the problem is more acute in the interior of the state.

Temporal and spatial trends of adult mortality in small areas of Brazil, 1980–2010

To determine the variations and spatial patterns of adult mortality across regions, over time, and by sex for 137 small areas in Brazil, we first apply TOPALS to estimate and smooth mortality rates and then use death distribution methods to evaluate the quality of the mortality data. Lastly, we employ spatial autocorrelation statistics and cluster analysis to identify the adult mortality trends and variations in these areas between 1980 and 2010. We find not only that regions in Brazil’s South and Southeast already had complete death registration systems prior to the study period, but that the completeness of death count coverage improved over time across the entire nation—most especially in lesser developed regions—probably because of public investment in health data collection. By also comparing adult mortality by sex and by region, we document a mortality sex differential in favor of women that remains high over the entire study period, most probably as a result of increased morbidity from external causes, especially among males. This increase also explains the concentration of high male mortality levels in some areas.

Vulnerable road-user deaths in Brazil: a Bayesian hierarchical model for spatial-temporal analysis

Reducing the road traffic injuries burden is relevant to many sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG3 - to establish good health and well-being. To describe the spatial-temporal trends and identify hotspot regions for fatal road traffic injuries, a Bayesian hierarchical Poisson model was used to analyze data on vulnerable road users (bicyclist, motorcyclist and pedestrians) in Brazil from 1999 to 2016. During the study period, mortality rates for bicyclists remained almost unchanged (0.6 per 100,000 people) but rose dramatically for motorcyclists (from 1.0 in 1999 to 6.0 per 100,000 people in 2016) and decreased for pedestrians (from 6.3 to 3.0 per 100,000 people). Spatial analyses accounting for socio-economic factors showed that the central and northeastern microregions of Brazil are hotspot areas for fatal injuries among motorcyclists while the southern areas are for pedestrians.

Burden of Disease Caused by Road Traffic Accidents in the City of Mashhad

Background: Mashhad is the second-largest Iranian megacity with a population of roughly 3 million and receiving around 25 million tourists a year, wherein road traffic accidents (RTAs) have become the leading cause of death and injuries. Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to calculate the burden of disease caused by RTAs in the city of Mashhad. Methods: In this applied research using a descriptive cross-sectional method, data associated with RTAs in the city of Mashhad in March 2016 - March 2017 were collected based on a complete enumeration of RTA-induced fatalities and disabilities from the Organization for Cemetery Management (Ferdows Organization) affiliated to Mashhad Municipality and the database of the Ministry of Health of Iran (MOH). Following verification, the years of life lost (YLL), the number of years lost due to disability (YLD), and the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were measured through the method proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: The total number of RTA deaths was 677 cases (men = 494 (73%) and women = 183 (27%)) and the number of DALYs was 29155 years (men = 21219.3 (72.8%) and women = 7935.1 (27.2%)). Of the total DALYs, 96% of them were associated with YLL, and 4% were related to YLD. Conclusions: Mortality data are recorded with relatively high accuracy in Iran. Given low YLD in DALYs in comparison with the findings of similar studies in developed countries, there are possible defects in data quality, in particular in terms of non-fatal accidents and injuries. These findings can be thus exploited for optimal allocation of resources in Razavi Khorasan Province and across Iran.

Female motorcycle mortality in Brazilian municipalities, 2005, 2010 and 2015

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the spatial distribution of female mortality due to motorcycle accidents in Brazilian municipalities between 2005 and 2015, as well as the variation in rates in the same period.

METHODS

Female mortality rates for the years 2005, 2010 and 2015 were estimated considering a three-year moving average around the base year, standardized by the direct method. Rates were standardized using the same pattern (Brazilian females in 2010) for each year. Then, the empirical Bayes estimator was used to reduce the effect of the random fluctuation. The percentage variation of the standardized rates was also analyzed for different population sizes (less than ten thousand, less than 50 thousand, more than 100 thousand and more than one million inhabitants).

RESULTS

Bayesian rates showed a clear increase in female mortality due to motorcycle accidents, especially in the North, Northeast and Midwest regions. In the municipalities of the South and Southeast regions, mainly in the period between 2010 and 2015, there was an apparent decrease in mortality. The percentage variation showed a reduction in the indicator analyzed in the period between 2010 and 2015 for the largest municipalities in the South and Southeast regions. For almost all regions and population sizes, the period between 2010 and 2015 showed a deceleration in the growth of rates.

CONCLUSION

The analysis clearly shows concentrations of municipalities with higher mortality, while also showing that the phenomenon has spread to a greater number of municipalities. The studied period allows the identification of different dynamics in female mortality, in a period of significant variation in mortality due to motorcycle accidents.

Physical Rehabilitation Needs in the BRICS Nations from 1990 to 2017: Cross-National Analyses Using Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study

Background: This study analyzes the current and evolving physical rehabilitation needs of BRICS nations (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, South Africa), a coalition of large emergent economies increasingly important for global health. Methods: Secondary, cross-national analyses of data on Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Total physical rehabilitation needs, and those stratified per major condition groups are analyzed for the year 2017 (current needs), and for every year since 1990 (evolution over time). ANOVAs are used to detect significant yearly changes. Results: Total physical rehabilitation needs have increased significantly from 1990 to 2017 in each of the BRICS nations, in every metric analyzed (YLD Counts, YLDs per 100,000 people, and percentage of YLDs relevant to physical rehabilitation; all p < 0.01). Musculoskeletal & pain conditions were leading cause of physical rehabilitation needs across the BRICS nations but to varying degrees: from 36% in South Africa to 60% in Brazil. Country-specific trends include: 25% of South African needs were from HIV-related conditions (no other BRICS nation had more than 1%); India had both absolute and relative growths of pediatric rehabilitation needs (p < 0.01); China had an exponential growth in the per-capita needs from neurological and neoplastic conditions (p < 0.01; r2 = 0.97); Brazil had a both absolute and relative growth of needs coming from musculoskeletal & pain conditions (p < 0.01); and the Russian Federation had the highest neurological rehabilitation needs per capita in 2017 (over than three times those of India, South Africa or Brazil). Conclusions: total physical rehabilitation needs have been increasing in each of the BRICS nations, both in absolute and relative values. Apart from the common growing trend, each of the BRICS nations had own patterns for the amount, typology, and evolution of their physical rehabilitation needs, which must be taken into account while planning for health and physical rehabilitation programs, policies and resources.

Tendência temporal e distribuição espacial da mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito no Piauí, 2000-2017

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar a tendência temporal e a distribuição espacial da mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito (AT) no Piauí, de 2000 a 2017. Métodos: Estudo ecológico de séries temporais, com dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM), referentes à mortalidade por AT em residentes do estado do Piauí, segundo sexo, faixa etária e município. Empregou-se regressão de Prais-Winsten. Resultados: Registraram-se 14.396 óbitos, com taxa de mortalidade por 100 mil habitantes de 13,9 em 2000 e 30,6 em 2017. Houve aumento significativo na taxa de mortalidade por AT (variação percentual anual [VPA] de 6,4% – IC95% 4,3;8,7), maior entre motociclistas (VPA=14,7% – IC95% 9,7;20,0) e entre ocupantes de veículos (VPA=15,2 – IC95% 10,5;20,2). Conclusão: Houve aumento significativo da mortalidade por AT no Piauí, principalmente de motociclistas e ocupantes de veículos. São necessárias ações para promover a segurança viária e prevenir mortes no trânsito.

Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents in Turkey between 2013 and 2017

Background and objectives: Road traffic accident (RTAs) is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide and its incidence is higher in developing countries. In this study, our aim was to determine the characteristics of RTAs in Turkey and make recommendations to reduce mortality and morbidity related to RTAs. Material and Methods: We obtained our data, which cover the years 2013 to 2017, from the database accessible at the official website of the Turkish Statistical Institute, which permits the use of its data for research purposes. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, and the percentage distribution and odds ratios were calculated. Results: In the study period, a total of 697,957 RTAs occurred in Turkey. A total of 1,168,121 individuals have been wounded and 3534 of them have lost their lives. The majority of RTAs occurred on weekends and in summer months. Male individuals are more likely to be exposed to death and injuries related to accidents. When the vehicle type is considered, motorcycle drivers are under more risk for RTAs. RTAs are more likely to occur in rural areas. Conclusion: Male individuals and motorcyclists are under a great risk for RTAs. Strict laws are mandatory in order to reduce morbidity and mortality related to RTAs. Additionally, educational efforts must focus on two-wheelers and tractor drivers, particularly in developing countries.

Acidentes Automobilísticos no Brasil em 2017: estudo ecológico dos anos de vida perdidos por incapacidade

RESUMO Este estudo se propõe a descrever o impacto dos Acidentes Automobilísticos no Brasil, no ano de 2017, sobre os anos de vida perdidos ajustados por incapacidade. Estudo ecológico, com dados secundários da Global Health Data Exchange (Global Burden of Disease 2017) disponibilizados pelo Institute for Health Metricsand Evaluation. Os dados foram obtidos utilizando filtros de causa (ferimentos na estrada por veículo automotor), localização (global, Brasil e sul da América Latina) e indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 15 e 49 anos. Foram considerados os anos de vida perdidos por incapacidade e a taxa de mortes por 100 mil habitantes. Os dados foram exportados para o Excel® for Windows 2010 e analisados conforme a literatura. Observa-se, no Brasil, um decréscimo nas taxas de óbitos (19,68%) e de anos de vida perdidos por incapacidade (22,10%) por acidente automobilístico entre indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 15 e 49 anos, porém mostram-se superiores as taxas globais e do sul da América Latina. Estudos como este são importantes para o aperfeiçoamento e o direcionamento de politicas públicas específicas, para formular e implementar estratégias de promoção e prevenção da saúde de segurança no trânsito.

Trends in the number of traffic accident victims on Brazil's federal highways before and after the start of the Decade of Action for Road Safety

This study aimed to analyze the trend in the number of fatalities, severe injuries, and minor injuries from traffic accidents on Brazil's federal highways according to the country's major geographic regions before and after the start of the Decade of Action for Road Safety (DARS). This was an interrupted time series study of data on accidents with fatal or injured victims provided by the Brazilian Federal Highway Police from 2007 to 2017. The Prais-Winsten method was used to calculate the monthly percentage change (MPC) in the number of fatalities, severe injuries, and minor injuries. Before the DARS, there was an upward monthly trend in the number of fatalities in these accidents in the country as a whole (MPC 0.71%) and in all five regions, especially in the South (MPC 1.01%) and Central-West (MPC 0.84%). There was an inverse trend after the start of the DARS, with a significant decrease in Brazil as a whole (MPC -1.24%) and in the major geographic regions. For each person that dies in an accident on a federal highway, at least 12 others suffer non-fatal injuries. There was an upward trend in the number of victims with severe injuries (MPC 0.53%) and minor injuries (MPC 0.8%) in Brazil and in the major geographic regions in the period prior to the DARS. After the start of the DARS, there was a significant downward trend in the absolute frequencies of these outcomes at the national and regional levels. In conclusion, before the DARS, there was an upward monthly trend in the number of fatal and injured victims of traffic accidents on Brazil's federal highways. After the start of the DARS, in 2011, there was an inverse trend, namely a decline in these outcomes in the country.

Analysis of triage and care for women victims of road accidents

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the care flow for women victims of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA). Method: a descriptive study with 782 women victims of RAT, classified by the Manchester Triage System (MTS) between 2015 and 2016. The sociodemographic profile and the time between the stages of care were analyzed, as well as care place and outcomes. Results: of the women in the study, 65.47% were young adults, 80.44% lived without a partner and 62.28% lived in the city of Belo Horizonte. Regarding the time between recording and risk classification, the mean was 7.7 minutes (SD: 9.9). The prevalent flowchart was “Great Trauma” (62.92%). 53.07% had “Red/Orange” priority level and the most prevalent outcome was “Discharge after consultation/medication”. Conclusion: the study shows that the hospital partially fulfills the times recommended by the MTS. Analyzing the flow of women victims of RAT contributed to optimize the quality and efficiency of care.

User experience and operational feasibility of four point-of-collection oral fluid drug-testing devices according to Brazilian traffic agents

OBJECTIVE

Traffic fatalities in Brazil still rank among the highest worldwide, with an overall rate of 23.4 deaths/100,000 inhabitants/year. Although alcohol and drug use play an important role in traffic accidents, national data about their relative influence are scarce. Drug screening is not routinely performed by traffic agents because alcohol is the only substance regularly investigated in roadblocks. Therefore, we aimed to describe the initial traffic agent user experience for 4 handheld point-of-collection oral fluid drug testing devices used in routine roadblocks in Brazil, focusing on usage perceptions in hopes of generalizing this approach for other developing countries.

METHODS

Four different oral fluid collection devices were evaluated: The DDS2, the DOA MultiScreen, the Dräger DrugTest 5000, and the Multi-Drug Multi-Line Twist Screen Device. Fourteen trained traffic agents obtained oral fluid from 164 drivers and performed 37 qualitative evaluations of the devices. Traffic agents filled out a questionnaire focusing on 9 feasibility criteria: Overall simplicity for roadside operation; operational success; saliva sample collection time; sample analysis time; ease of sample preparation and analysis; agreement with observed clinical signs; overall hygiene and safety; sufficient operating instructions; and hygiene of saliva collection. These were weighted based on an expert panel and yielded an overall composite device experience score that ranged from 1 (poor) to 100 (excellent).

RESULTS

Ease of use, operational success, and acceptable collection and analysis time were considered the most important criteria by the expert panel. The results ranged from 27.3 to 88.9% for simplicity of use; 45.5 to 100.0% for operational success; 27.3 to 100% for acceptable collection time; and 36.4 to 100.0% for acceptable analysis time. The final device scores, based on the agents' user experiences, ranked as follows: DOA MultiScreen: 49.3/100; Dräger DrugTest 5000: 82.4/100; Multi-Drug Multi-Line Twist Screen Device: 84.3/100; DDS2: 88.4/100.

CONCLUSION

Based on the selected criteria, 3 of the 4 devices were considered useful by traffic agents in routine roadblock operations. The weighted evaluations suggest that their ease of use (handling, sampling analysis, and reliability), as well as their agreement with findings obtained by other means, defined their utility to traffic agents, although such appraisals must be further analyzed in future studies.

Profile and trend of risk factors for traffic accidents in schoolchildren in Brazilian capitals: PeNSE 2009, 2012 and 2015

INTRODUCTION

Land transport accidents (LTA) are the second cause of death in schoolchildren aged 13 to 17 years. The study aims to describe the risk factors for LTA in schoolchildren from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) of 2015 and to evaluate the trend of selected indicators in the last three editions of PeNSE.

METHODOLOGY

A descriptive study on risk factors for LTA in 2015, with PeNSE data and time series trends analysis, with age-adjusted regression tests of the 2009, 2012 and 2015 editions, in Brazilian capitals.

RESULTS

In 2015, 26.3% of ninth grade schoolchildren, mostly between 13 and 15 years of age, reported having been in a motor vehicle driven by someone who consumed alcohol and 32.4% had driven a motor vehicle; 30.7% of adolescents did not use seat belts in the back seat; and 16.8% of schoolchildren who ride motorcycles did not wear helmets. There was also a worsening of the indicators between 2009 and 2015, regarding driving a motor vehicle (1.0 percentage points) and having been driven by vehicle for consumption of alcoholic beverages (1.1 percentage points).

DISCUSSION

The LTA occurrence results from the interaction between roads, vehicles and users, and has a strong correlation with behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show the need to invest in educational measures, associated with supervision, the improvement of road infrastructure, research and improvement of legislation. The monitoring of risk factors in schoolchildren substantially contributes to support intersectoral public policies interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality in traffic.

Burden of disease in Brazil, 1990-2016: a systematic subnational analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

BACKGROUND

Political, economic, and epidemiological changes in Brazil have affected health and the health system. We used the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (GBD 2016) results to understand changing health patterns and inform policy responses.

METHODS

We analysed GBD 2016 estimates for life expectancy at birth (LE), healthy life expectancy (HALE), all-cause and cause-specific mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and risk factors for Brazil, its 26 states, and the Federal District from 1990 to 2016, and compared these with national estimates for ten comparator countries.

FINDINGS

Nationally, LE increased from 68·4 years (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 68·0-68·9) in 1990 to 75·2 years (74·7-75·7) in 2016, and HALE increased from 59·8 years (57·1-62·1) to 65·5 years (62·5-68·0). All-cause age-standardised mortality rates decreased by 34·0% (33·4-34·5), while all-cause age-standardised DALY rates decreased by 30·2% (27·7-32·8); the magnitude of declines varied among states. In 2016, ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of age-standardised YLLs, followed by interpersonal violence. Low back and neck pain, sense organ diseases, and skin diseases were the main causes of YLDs in 1990 and 2016. Leading risk factors contributing to DALYs in 2016 were alcohol and drug use, high blood pressure, and high body-mass index.

INTERPRETATION

Health improved from 1990 to 2016, but improvements and disease burden varied between states. An epidemiological transition towards non-communicable diseases and related risks occurred nationally, but later in some states, while interpersonal violence grew as a health concern. Policy makers can use these results to address health disparities.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

[Spatial analysis of motorcycle-related mortalities in Brazilian municipalities]

Analysis of the distribution of motorcycle-related mortality rates in Brazilian municipalities is fundamental to understand and seek to minimize the occurrence of this growing phenomenon. The main objective of this work is to analyze the spatial distribution of motorcycle rider mortality rates in Brazil, based on more robust and reliable estimates. An attempt was also made to identify the presence of spatial clusters in the distribution of such mortality rates in given municipalities. The rates were estimated based on the average number of motorcyclist deaths recorded in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. These rates were then directly standardized and graduated based on the local empirical Bayesian estimator. A Local Indicator of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) indicated the presence of spatial patterns. The Northeast and Mid-West regions concentrated most of the municipalities with high mortality rates as well and most of the clusters of municipalities with a high-high distribution pattern. Graduated Bayesian estimation was effective to deal with the occurrence of extreme values, thereby improving the reliability of the estimates and enhancing the visualization of the rates on the map.

Prevalence of acute stress disorder among road traffic accident survivors: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Road traffic accident (RTA), an unexpected traumatic event, may not only lead to death and serious physical injuries, but also could put survivors at an increased risk for a wide range of psychiatric disorders, particularly acute stress disorder (ASD). Early assessment of trauma-related psychological responses is important because acute trauma responses in the early post-traumatic period are among the robust predictors of long-term mental health problems. However, estimates of the prevalence of ASD among RTA survivors varied considerably across studies. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to identify the pooled prevalence of ASD among RTA survivors.

METHODS

A systematic literature search in the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Embase and Web of Science was performed from their inception dates to December 2017. Subject headings were used to identify relevant articles, and the search strategy was adjusted across databases. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated by Cochran's χ² test and quantified by the I² statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify the pooled prevalence in relation to the country of study, instrument used to identify ASD, age, gender and traumatic brain injury. When significant heterogeneity was observed, the influence of some potential moderators was explored using meta-regression analyses.

RESULTS

Thirteen eligible studies conducted in 8 countries were included. A total of 2989 RTA survivors were assessed, of which 287 were identified with ASD. The overall heterogeneity was high across studies (I²=96.8%, P < 0.001), and the pooled prevalence of ASD among RTA survivors was 15.81% (95% confidence interval: 8.27-25.14%). Subgroup analyses indicated that the prevalence of ASD among RTA survivors differed significantly with regard to the country of study, instrument used to identify ASD, age and gender (P < 0.05). Meta-regression analyses showed that mean age of participants and quality assessment score were significant moderators for heterogeneity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one-sixth of RTA survivors suffer from ASD, indicating the need for regular assessment of early trauma responses among RTA survivors, as well as the importance of implementing early psychological interventions.