After-effects and disabilities in traffic crash victims in northern Brazil

<b>Objectives</b>: The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics related to crash and victim, as well as the after-effects/disabilities and consequences arising from traffic crashes occurring in the city of Rio Branco–Acre. <b>Methods</b>: This is an analytical descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the City of Rio Branco–Acre. The study population consisted of 405 residents of the city who were victims of traffic crashes, of all age groups and genders, who were hospitalized for the first time as a result of the crash in public hospitals and the health system network, as recorded in the Hospital Information System, and who were discharged between January 1 and December 31, 2010. The data sources included hospital record consultations and active searches for the victims. Hierarchical logistic regression was performed to evaluate the factors associated with the after-effects. <b>Results</b>: The majority of the study population was motorcycle victims (68.6%), male, and young (20–39 years). Concerning the after-effects, the following were significantly associated: factors related to the presence of a postcrash activity limitation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.39–6.76), length of hospital stay in days (OR = 1 03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06), and surgical treatment (OR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.03–3.21). Those who suffered damage to soft tissue and nerves or facial injury showed an odds ratio of 2 to 4 times of having an after-effect/disability, independent of the victim's personal attributes. <b>Conclusion</b>: The mechanism, such as the origin of the pattern of injuries, explains the exposure factors shown by each attribute of the victim and their characteristics. Many of the injuries were precursors to after-effects/disabilities, which, due to their nature and extent, result in the modification of the apparently healthy living standards of young victims who are routinely injured in traffic crashes. Therefore, public policies for prevention should be formulated, reformulated, and implemented, taking into account each attribute of the victims and their social conditions, because these are closely related to their habits and customs. This is a starting point for promoting changes to the current reality that traffic crashes present in the morbidity and mortality of the population.

**研究目的**：本研究旨在明确巴西阿克雷州里奥布朗库市道路交通碰撞相关的碰撞特征与受害者特征，以及该类碰撞所引发的后遗症状、残疾及不良后果。
**研究方法**：本研究为在阿克雷州里奥布朗库市开展的分析描述性横断面研究。研究对象为2010年1月1日至12月31日期间，因道路交通碰撞首次入住该市公立医院及医疗体系网络、且已在医院信息系统（Hospital Information System）完成登记的405名各年龄段、各性别的道路交通碰撞受害者。数据来源包括医院病历查询及对受害者的主动寻访。本研究采用分层逻辑回归分析，评估与后遗症状相关的影响因素。
**研究结果**：本研究对象中绝大多数为摩托车碰撞受害者（68.6%），且以男性及青壮年（20~39岁）群体为主。关于后遗症状，以下因素与其存在显著关联：碰撞后活动受限相关因素（比值比（odds ratio, OR）=2.39；95%置信区间（confidence interval, CI）：2.39~6.76）、住院时长（OR=1.03；95%CI：1.01~1.06）、外科手术治疗（OR=1.82；95%CI：1.03~3.21）。存在软组织与神经损伤或面部损伤的受害者，其出现后遗症状/残疾的风险为其他人群的2~4倍，且该关联不受受害者个人属性的影响。
**结论**：损伤模式的相关机制可解释受害者各项属性及其特征所体现的暴露因素。多数损伤均为后遗症状/残疾的前驱诱因，这类损伤因其性质与严重程度，会改变本应健康的青壮年受害者的生活状态——这类人群本是道路交通碰撞的高发受伤群体。因此，公共预防政策的制定、修订与实施，应充分考虑受害者的各项属性及其社会处境，因其与受害者的行为习惯密切相关。本研究可为改善当前道路交通碰撞所导致的人群发病率与死亡率现状提供参考依据。