Injury in Children with Developmental Disorders: A 1:1 Nested Case-Control Study Using Multiple Datasets in Taiwan.

Although past studies have identified predictors related to child injuries with developmental disorders, national-level research in Asia is limited. The objective of this study was to explore the risk factors for child injuries with developmental disorders in Taiwan using a national-level integrated database for the period between 2004-2015 (The Maternal and Child Health Database, National Health Insurance Research Database, Census Registry, and Indigenous Household Registration). Children younger than 12 years old who had records of visiting the ER or being hospitalized due to injury or without injury were included in this study. A 1:1 nested case-control study (injury vs. noninjury) to examine the risk factors for child injury with developmental disorder was performed. A total of 2,167,930 children were enrolled. The risk factors were associated with repeated ER visits or hospitalization: being indigenous (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.51; CI: 1.45-1.57); having a developmental disorder (AOR: 1.74; CI: 1.70-1.78); and having parents with illicit drug use (AOR: 1.48; CI: 1.32-1.66), alcohol abuse (AOR: 1.21; CI: 1.07-1.37), or a history of mental illness (AOR: 1.43; CI: 1.41-1.46). Being indigenous, having developmental disorders, and having parents with history of illicit drug use, alcohol abuse, or mental illness were predictors related to injuries in children.

Evaluating the Effects of Holidays on Road Crash Injuries in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that drivers tend to engage in risk-taking behaviours on public holidays. Studies that examined the association between holidays (or other special days) and fatal injuries are inconsistent. This study used UK STATS19 data to investigate the associations of nine public holidays on road crash casualties. METHODS: This retrospective study assessed UK STATS19 crash data for 1990-2017. All casualties from two vehicle crashes were initially considered; subsequently, casualties with missing data were excluded. Multiple logistic regression was estimated to explore the associations of potential risk factors with the likelihood of killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties and to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs). RESULTS: In total, 3,751,998 casualties from traffic accidents in the United Kingdom during 1990-2017 were included in the final data set; among these, 410,299 (10.9%) were KSI casualties, and 3,341,699 (89.1%) were slight injuries. Crashes on public holidays were 16% (AOR = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-1.19) more likely to involve KSI casualties than were crashes on non-holidays. With other factors controlled for, crashes during the Queen's 2002 Golden Jubilee and on New Year's Day were 48% (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.06-2.07) and 36% (AOR = 1.36; 1.26-1.48) more likely to lead to KSIs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of crashes resulting in KSI casualties on public holidays was higher than that on non-holidays. Furthermore, crashes during the Queen's 2002 Golden Jubilee had the highest risk of KSI casualties followed by New Year's Day.

Population-based case-control study of the effect of sun glare on pedestrian fatalities in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Sun glare is a serious driving hazard and increases crash risks. Relatively few studies have examined the effects of sun glare on pedestrian fatalities, given that a crash has occurred. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sun glare on pedestrian fatalities. DESIGN: A population-based case-control study. SETTING: Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Using the Taiwan National Traffic Crash Data and sunrise and sunset data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the period 2003 to 2016, 100 411 pedestrians involved in crashes were identified. Of these crashes, 13 355 and 87 056 were glare-related (case) and non-glare-related (control) crashes, respectively. METHODS: To account for unobserved heterogeneity, mixed logit models were estimated to identify the determinants of pedestrian fatalities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pedestrian fatalities. RESULTS: Pedestrians involved in glare-related crashes were more likely to be fatally injured than those in non-glare-related crashes (ß=0.527; t=3.21). Other contributory factors to fatal injuries among pedestrians were older pedestrians (ß=0.553; t=2.33), male drivers (ß=0.324; t=2.33), older drivers (ß=0.218; t=2.14), intoxicated motorists (ß=0.606; t=2.85), rural roadways (ß=0.985; t=3.92), overtaking manoeuvres (ß=0.472; t=3.58), heavy vehicle crash partners (ß=0.248; t=2.78) and sunset hours (ß=0.274; t=3.08). Walking against traffic appeared beneficial for decreasing injury severity (ß=-0.304; t=-2.76). CONCLUSIONS: Sun glare is associated with pedestrian fatalities. Older pedestrians, male drivers, older drivers and intoxicated motorists are prevalent determinants of pedestrian fatalities in glare-related crashes.