Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center
Abstract Background Road traffic crash-related injuries (RTCs) pose a significant public health challenge. In Saudi Arabia, a notable decline in RTC-related injuries was observed from 2016 to 2020 during the pre-pandemic era. However, the status and outcomes of RTCs following the pandemic remain lar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00817-3 |
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| author | Rayan Jafnan Alharbi Ateeq Almuwallad Ahmed Al-Wathinani Abdulrhman Alghamdi Elsie Maguen Sharfuddin Chowdhury |
| author_facet | Rayan Jafnan Alharbi Ateeq Almuwallad Ahmed Al-Wathinani Abdulrhman Alghamdi Elsie Maguen Sharfuddin Chowdhury |
| author_sort | Rayan Jafnan Alharbi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Road traffic crash-related injuries (RTCs) pose a significant public health challenge. In Saudi Arabia, a notable decline in RTC-related injuries was observed from 2016 to 2020 during the pre-pandemic era. However, the status and outcomes of RTCs following the pandemic remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to review the first two and a half years of characteristics and outcomes of RTCs in the post-pandemic era in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Method Data was obtained from the Saudi TraumA Registry– STAR during the pre-pandemic period from August 2017 to March 2020 and the post-pandemic period from July 2020 to December 2022. Data were collected on patient demographics, injury details, prehospital and in-hospital vital signs, and in-hospital outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between different variables and in-hospital mortality. Results A total of 6,577 patients sustained a road injury during the study period, pre-pandemic phase n = 2,809 (42.8%) and post-pandemic phase n = 3,768 (57.2%). An increase in trauma cases by 14.4% was seen in the post-pandemic period (motor vehicle drivers 10.1%, motor vehicle passengers 1.9%, motorcycles 1.3%, and pedestrians 1.2%, p < 0.001). In the post-pandemic period, there was an increase in head injuries by 3.3% (p = 0.013), lower extremity injuries by 3.1% (p = 0.003), and injuries to the upper extremity by 1.3% (p = 0.018). There was a notable increase in the proportion of cases requiring intensive care unit admission by 5.6% (p = 0.001) in the post-pandemic period. In-hospital mortality was 278 (4.2%), pre-pandemic 113 cases (1.7%), and post-pandemic 165 cases (2.5%), p = 0.478. Conclusion This study revealed a shift in the distribution of cases across age groups, mechanism of injury, injury severity, and outcomes, with notable changes in percentages and varying degrees of increases in cases after the pandemic. It is worth investing in increasing road traffic safety and reducing injuries to minimise the burden of RTC-related injuries in Saudi Arabia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-250b1b4577164d04b960f7f3e81b7bbb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1865-1380 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-250b1b4577164d04b960f7f3e81b7bbb2025-08-20T03:52:23ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13802025-04-0118111010.1186/s12245-025-00817-3Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma centerRayan Jafnan Alharbi0Ateeq Almuwallad1Ahmed Al-Wathinani2Abdulrhman Alghamdi3Elsie Maguen4Sharfuddin Chowdhury5Emergency Medical Services Program, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan UniversityEmergency Medical Services Program, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud UniversityEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Program, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan UniversityTrauma Center, King Saud Medical CityAbstract Background Road traffic crash-related injuries (RTCs) pose a significant public health challenge. In Saudi Arabia, a notable decline in RTC-related injuries was observed from 2016 to 2020 during the pre-pandemic era. However, the status and outcomes of RTCs following the pandemic remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to review the first two and a half years of characteristics and outcomes of RTCs in the post-pandemic era in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Method Data was obtained from the Saudi TraumA Registry– STAR during the pre-pandemic period from August 2017 to March 2020 and the post-pandemic period from July 2020 to December 2022. Data were collected on patient demographics, injury details, prehospital and in-hospital vital signs, and in-hospital outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between different variables and in-hospital mortality. Results A total of 6,577 patients sustained a road injury during the study period, pre-pandemic phase n = 2,809 (42.8%) and post-pandemic phase n = 3,768 (57.2%). An increase in trauma cases by 14.4% was seen in the post-pandemic period (motor vehicle drivers 10.1%, motor vehicle passengers 1.9%, motorcycles 1.3%, and pedestrians 1.2%, p < 0.001). In the post-pandemic period, there was an increase in head injuries by 3.3% (p = 0.013), lower extremity injuries by 3.1% (p = 0.003), and injuries to the upper extremity by 1.3% (p = 0.018). There was a notable increase in the proportion of cases requiring intensive care unit admission by 5.6% (p = 0.001) in the post-pandemic period. In-hospital mortality was 278 (4.2%), pre-pandemic 113 cases (1.7%), and post-pandemic 165 cases (2.5%), p = 0.478. Conclusion This study revealed a shift in the distribution of cases across age groups, mechanism of injury, injury severity, and outcomes, with notable changes in percentages and varying degrees of increases in cases after the pandemic. It is worth investing in increasing road traffic safety and reducing injuries to minimise the burden of RTC-related injuries in Saudi Arabia.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00817-3Road injuryMajor traumaMotor Vehicle crashesAfter COVID-19Post pandemic |
| spellingShingle | Rayan Jafnan Alharbi Ateeq Almuwallad Ahmed Al-Wathinani Abdulrhman Alghamdi Elsie Maguen Sharfuddin Chowdhury Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center International Journal of Emergency Medicine Road injury Major trauma Motor Vehicle crashes After COVID-19 Post pandemic |
| title | Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center |
| title_full | Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center |
| title_short | Evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post-pandemic era: a two-and-a-half-year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center |
| title_sort | evaluation of road traffic injuries in the post pandemic era a two and a half year review of clinical characteristics and outcomes at a major trauma center |
| topic | Road injury Major trauma Motor Vehicle crashes After COVID-19 Post pandemic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00817-3 |
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