Open AccessReality of traffic injuries attributable to preceding decreased level of consciousness
Author(s) -
Oda Yuya,
Motomura Tomokazu,
Matsumoto Hisashi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acute medicine and surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2052-8817
DOI - 10.1002/ams2.649
Subject(s) - odds ratio , medicine , confidence interval , injury prevention , poison control , occupational safety and health , demography , medical record , psychiatry , pediatrics , emergency medicine , pathology , sociology
Aim Although decreased level of consciousness (DLOC) while driving may lead to serious accidents involving drivers and people around them, including passengers and pedestrians, few studies have assessed traffic injuries attributable to preceding DLOC. We aimed to identify factors suggestive of a DLOC preceding traffic injury during initial examination. Methods This study included 193 drivers who were brought to our facility during the 1‐year period from January to December 2018. The drivers were divided into those with and without DLOC for comparison and analysis. Data on age, sex, causes of DLOC, and medical history were retrospectively reviewed from medical records. Results Of these 193 drivers, 58 (30.1%) had experienced preceding DLOC. The following factors suggested possible episodes of preceding DLOC: a single‐vehicle accident (odds ratio [OR] 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76–7.34; P < 0.001) and histories of hypertension (OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.13–6.15; P = 0.0248) and psychiatric disorders (OR 3.49; 95% CI 1.08–11.3; P = 0.0370). The causes of DLOC were endogenous diseases in 20 drivers (34.3%), dozing off episodes in 19 (32.8%), and acute alcohol intoxication in 11 (19.0%). Conclusion Before traffic accidents, 30.1% of drivers experienced DLOC. Single‐vehicle accidents and histories of hypertension and psychiatric disorders were factors suggestive of preceding DLOC.