Risk Factors of Bedard et al for Death of a Driver in a Vehicle Accident

Description

Bedard et al identified a number of risk factors for death of the driver in a vehicle accident. These can help identify possible interventions to reduce fatal accidents. The authors are from Lakehead University, McMaster University and the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

NOTE: Passenger death was not targeted in the study.

Parameters:

(1) age of the patient

(2) gender of the patient

(3) ethanol intoxication

(4) side impact

(5) vehicle speed prior to impact

(6) use and type of seat belt

Risk Factor	Increased Risk	Reference	Decreased Risk
age	>= 50 years	40 - 49 years	16 - 39 years
gender	female	male	NA
blood alcohol content	>= 0.20 g/dL	none	< 0.20 g/dL
impact	driver's side	front	right side or rear
vehicle speed	>= 96 kph	< 56 kph
seat belt	none		shoulder, lap or both

from Table 9, page 723

Risk factors associated with high risk of death included:

(1) age >= 80 years of age

(2) female gender

(3) blood alcohol content >= 0.30 g/dL

(4) driver's side impact

(5) no seat or shoulder belt

(6) vehicle speed >= 112 kph (>= 69 miles per hour)

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Description

Specialty

ICD-10