A comparison of health outcomes in older versus younger adults following a road traffic crash injury: a cohort study

Bamini Gopinath; Ian A Harris; Michael Nicholas; Petrina Casey; Fiona Blyth; Christopher G Maher; Ian D Cameron

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122732

A comparison of health outcomes in older versus younger adults following a road traffic crash injury: a cohort study

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 1;10(4):e0122732. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122732. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Bamini Gopinath¹, Ian A Harris², Michael Nicholas³, Petrina Casey¹, Fiona Blyth⁴, Christopher G Maher⁵, Ian D Cameron¹

Affiliations

¹ John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
² Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research and South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
³ Pain Management Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Pain Management Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Given the aging demographics of most developed countries, understanding the public health impact of mild/moderate road traffic crash injuries in older adults is important. We aimed to determine whether health outcomes (pain severity and quality of life measures) over 24 months differ significantly between older (65+) and younger adults (18-64).

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 364, 284 and 252 participants with mild/moderate injury following a vehicle collision at baseline, 12 and 24 months, respectively. A telephone-administered questionnaire obtained information on socio-economic, pre- and post-injury psychological and heath characteristics.

Results: At baseline, there were 55 (15.1%) and 309 (84.9%) participants aged ≥65 and 18-64 years, respectively. At 12- and 24-month follow-up, older compared to younger participants who had sustained a mild/moderate musculoskeletal injury had lower physical functioning (3.9-units lower Short Form-12 Physical Composite Score, multivariable-adjusted p = 0.03 at both examinations). After multivariable adjustment, older (n = 45) versus younger (n = 207) participants had lower self-perceived health status (8.1-units lower European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions Visual Acuity Scale scores at 24 months, p = 0.03), 24 months later.

Conclusions: Older compared to younger participants who sustained a mild/moderate injury following a road-traffic crash demonstrated poorer physical functioning and general health at 24 months.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accidents, Traffic
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Male
Middle Aged
Pain / epidemiology
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Treatment Outcome
Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
Wounds and Injuries / pathology
Wounds and Injuries / therapy*
Young Adult

Grants and funding

The study is funded by the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales. The funder participates in the Steering Group for the study but has no direct involvement with the scientific aspects of the study. Professor Maher’s fellowship is funded by the Australian Research Council. Professor Cameron’s fellowship is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.