Epidemiology of bicycle injuries in 13 health divisions,Islamic Republic of Iran 2003
Bicyclists are vulnerable road users for severe injury all over the world. The nature and extent of such injuries are less well known in Iran. Using data from a comprehensive survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 13 health divisions of Iran, in 2003, we examined circumstances around bicyclist injury and death. Trained health workers completed the survey instruments by interviewing patients who stayed more than 24 h in hospitals and/or relatives, hospital personnel and by reviewing patient charts. Data were cross-matched with medico-legal documents to prevent missing deaths. The information that was collected from 64 cities/towns’ emergency departments (EDs), over the study period, showed that 440 injured cyclists were hospitalized and/or died due to traffic collisions. Most injuries occurred in males (94.8%) and in the young (median age: 14 years with 75% ≤18 years). Head injury occurred in 14% of all hospitalized and in 90% of fatally injured bicyclists. Striking a moving vehicle increased the odds of death (OR: 32.3; 95% CI 3.5–291.0) as well as the odds of severe injury (OR: 1.9; 95% CI 1.2–3.2) compared with other mechanisms of injury. As a conclusion, bicyclists in Iran, particularly males and young children, are vulnerable to severe injury and death when struck by moving vehicles on highways.
Mohammad KarkhanehaEmail:mohammad.karkhaneh@ualberta.ca　Mohsen Naghavib　Brian H. Rowea　Brent E. Hageld　Nahid Jafarib　L. Duncan Saundersa
[a]Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;[b]Practical Research Secretariat, Deputy Minister for Health Affairs, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran;[c]Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;[d]Department of Paediatrics and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada;[e]Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
Bicycling　 Wounds and injuries　 Epidemiology Accidents traffic Health surveys
