Influence of motor vehicle involvement and other characteristics on hospitalizations for bicycling injuries: United States, all ages, 2002-2006

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Bicycling and bicycling injuries have increased over the past two decades in the US. At the same time, the literature lacks data on current nationwide trends, risk factors, and outcomes. This study aims to fill these gaps by examining patient and hospital characteristics of hospitalizations for motor-traffic (MVT) related and non-MVT-related bicycling injuries. METHODS: Patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis E-code corresponding to MVT- related or non-MVT related bicycle injury, drawn from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002-2006), were included. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine patient and hospital characteristics (length of stay, total charges, discharge disposition, and demographic characteristics) associated with hospitalizations for bicycling injuries, with a focus on motor-vehicle traffic involvement as a predictor. National estimates were also calculated. RESULTS/OUTCOMES: For the 2002 through 2006 time period, the NIS captured 7074 MVT-Related and 18493 Non-MVT related bicycling injury hospitalizations. This translates to a nationwide estimated 34 266 MVT-related and 89 831 Non-MVT-related bicycle injury hospitalizations for the included 5 years. After controlling for covariates, MVT-related bicycling injury hospitalizations had 2.05 days longer average lengths of stay (95% CI: 1.72-2.40; p < 0.001) and an average of $17 305 more total charges (95% CI: 14 806-19 803; p 0.001) than Non-MVT-related. Those with MVT-related injuries had more deaths than Non-MVT (OR 5.67, 95% CI: 4.14-7.76). CONCLUSIONS: MVT-related bicycling injuries result in longer hospital stays, higher costs, and increased mortality. Future research is needed to determine interventions to reduce MVT-related bicycling injuries.