Epidemiology of road traffic accidents in Tabriz municipality: A crosssectional study

Introduction: Traffic accidents are of the most common causes for emergency ward admissions with variable outcomes ranging from full recovery to death. In order to have an accurate policy setting, the information regarding the accidents should be unraveled. The present study was carried out aiming to describe traffic accidents causing trauma in one of Iran’s major municipalities. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 757 patients admitted to the emergency wards with the background of traffic accidents were included in the study. All patients had signed informed consent before participating in the study. Data regarding these patients were extracted from the hospital information system (HIS) and then analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 33.09 ± 17.19. Most of the patients (70.7%) were men. Almost two third of the patients were injured inside the cities. Accidents happening on the inter-city roads were significantly related to the car collisions. Emergency medical services (EMS) were the most common route of admission and referral. The head trauma had the highest incidence rate among all traumas based on location. Accidents on the inter-city roads were related to the injury to the neck, thorax, and upper limbs. Conclusion: Based on various factors effecting trauma caused in traffic accidents, the clinical picture was variable. It is important to have an understanding of the situation regarding traffic accidents in order to further enhance the quality of care for these patients