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Shankuan Zhu, MD, PhD1, Peter Layde, MD, MSc2, Clare Guse, MS2, Purushottam W Laud, PhD3, and Steve Hargarten, MD, MPH2. (1) Injury Research Center, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, (414) 456-7674, szhu@mcw.edu, (2) Wisconsin Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, (3) Division of Biostatistics, Health Policy Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Objective: The influence of height, weight and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) on the risk of death among drivers in motor vehicle crashes is unclear. Methods: A total of 30, 667 drivers aged 16 or over in Crashworthiness Data System of National Automotive Sampling System (NASS CDS) from 1997 to 2001, a US national representative sample of police reported motor vehicle crashes involving passenger cars, light trucks and vans, was analyzed. Logistic regression models were applied with death in 30 days of motor vehicle crashes as outcome, and height, weight, and BMI as main explanatory variables. Results: After controlling for potential confounding factors related to driver, vehicle and collision, there was a J-shaped relation of weight and BMI with fatality in male drivers (P<.01 and P<.05), whereas in female drivers height had a linear increasing relation with fatality (P<.05). The relationships of weight and BMI with fatality in males were modified by the type of the collision and status of airbag deployment. The magnitude of the increasing risk for fatality that observed at the large end of weight and BMI continuums were determined mainly by the magnitude of the change of velocity (DV, km/hr) during the crash. Conclusions: Our study suggests that heavy or obese drivers have an increasing risk of death in motor vehicle crashes. The risk associated with weight and obesity may be due to increased momentum crashes or due to co-morbidities related to obesity. These results need further elucidation but could have a major impact on high-risk cohort detection, motor vehicle design, and injury prevention.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to know
Keywords: Injury Risk, Motor Vehicles
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.