Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Tadesse Haileyesus, MS¹, Joseph L. Annest, PhD¹, and Ann M. Dellinger, PhD, MPH². (1) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control/OSP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop K-59, Atlanta, GA 30341, (770) 488-1304, THaileyesus@cdc.gov, (2) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control/Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop K-63, Atlanta, GA 30341

Purpose: To characterize national estimates of unintentional pedal cyclist injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments (ED) resulting from an encounter with a motor vehicle (MV) on a street/highway. Methods: Data for 2001-2004 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program were analyzed. Narratives were reviewed to identify all nonfatal injuries from being struck by/striking a MV or avoiding a collision with a MV while riding a pedal cycle on the road. Data are presented on patient demographics, principal diagnosis, primary body part affected, ED discharge disposition, and injury circumstances (e.g., hit/hit by moving MV, swerved/side swiped, hit by MV pulling/backing out, hit parked/stopped car). Results: Preliminary estimates indicate 61,524 persons (21.3 per 100,000 population; 95% CI = 14.3; 28.2) of all ages were treated annually for pedal cyclist injuries occurring from an encounter with a MV. Children aged 10-14 years had the highest injury rate (65.6). About 80% of those injured were male. A common primary body part affected was the head (19.8%), of which 70.5% had a principal diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury. Over one-third of injuries occurred during June-August. Riders were injured from being hit by a moving MV (80.8%), hitting a moving MV (9.8%) or hitting a parked/stopped MV (6.8%). When compared to all types of nonfatal pedal cyclist injuries, those involving a MV were 2.6 times more likely to be hospitalized/transferred for specialized care (12.4% vs 4.8%). Conclusions: Efforts are needed to reduce pedal cyclist injuries occurring while sharing the road with MVs.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the number and characteristics of pedal cyclist injuries involving motor vehicles on the road who were treated in hospital emergency departments in US.
• List the most common primary body parts affected, and the most common types of injuries among hospitalized and non-hospitalized cyclists.
• Discuss several potential interventions to improve the safety of pedal cyclists while sharing the road with motor vehicles.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No