Limor Aharonson-Daniel, PhD¹, Katherine Perez, PhD², and Kobi Peleg, PhD MPH¹. (1) Israel Center for Trauma and Emergency Medicine Research, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel, 972-3-5354252, limorad@gertner.health.gov.il, (2) Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps n1, Barcelona, 08023, Spain

Background: The Barell Body Region by Nature of Injury Diagnosis matrix is a new tool which enables standardized reporting of injury, based on ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes. Each ICD-9-CM injury diagnosis code is placed in the matrix which displays 12 nature of injury columns and 35 body region rows. The aim of the paper is to show the application of this tool for intercountry comparisons: Israel (6.7 million inhabitants % 28 <15 years old) and Spain (40,8 million inhabitants, 14,5% <15 years old). Methods: Data on hospitalized traffic casualties were obtained from the National trauma registry in Israel and from National hospital discharge data in Spain. Data was classified using the Barell matrix, using up to 10 diagnoses per patient. Comparisons of frequency distribution of injuries between the two countries were made. Results: during 2001, 40174 road accident casualties were recorded in spain and 5,038 in Israel. Gender distribution was similar at 70% males, inpatient death was 3% in both populations. Israeli population was younger with a higher proportion of severe injuries (9% vs 3% iss 25+) and longer inpatient stays. Overall trends in the frequency distribution of body region and nature of injury were similar with more abdominal injuries in the israreli population (14% vs 7% in spain) and more injuries to the vertebral column in spain (15% vs 7% in Israel), more contusions in Israel (36% vs 20% in spain) and slightly more fractures in spain (70% vs 58% in Israel).

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the session, the audience will be familiar with the Barell Matrix and its application for producing standard formatted reports which enable case-mix comparison of injury across time and place

Keywords: Injury, Health Information

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.