Surveillance of Injury in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India: A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Introduction: Injury is a major, preventable public health problem in terms of morbidity, premature mortality or disability. This study aims to assess the epidemiology of injury in patients admitted to a tertiary care centre in northern India. Materials and Methods: Observational, Descriptive, secondary data based study of injury patients admitted in surgical emergency department of Government Medical College Hospital Chandigarh from July 2009 to June 2010. Results: Out of these total 7222 patients, 4129(57.2%) were of Road Traffic Accident (RTA) and 22.8% were of Assault. Male were at high risk of RTA. Although, overall males were at higher risk of assault but middle aged women were at higher risk than their counterparts. For ‘fall ‘females were at high risk. Assault cases were more prevalent during summer, while RTA cases were more prevalent during winter season and fall during rainy season were reportedly more. Majority (33.0%) of RTA injury was in the age group of 20-39 years(most productive age) and in the age group of <10 years falls were most common (56.0% of all injury).