The prevalence of long-term rehabilitation following motor-vehicle crashes in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: In Saudi Arabia, motor-vehicle crashes (MVC) are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). There is limited information locally on the magnitude and need for rehabilitation following MVC. This study examined the prevalence of MVC patients requiring long-term rehabilitation and the epidemiology of associated injuries. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at four hospitals of the National Guard Hospitals Affairs from January 2016 to March 2019. The study used data from an institutional trauma registry of all MVC admissions. Chi-square tests, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare patients requiring long-term and short-term rehabilitation. RESULTS: The study included 506 patients. The study population was relatively young, with an average age was 32.8 ± 15.5 years, and the majority were males. Over two-thirds (71.3%) of patients required long-term rehabilitation. Half the patients sustained multiple fractures, and 17.0% sustained traumatic brain injuries. Overall, 53.1 and 61.8% of patients required occupational and physiotherapy, respectively. Those admitted to the intensive care unit were four times more likely to need long-term rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant burden of long-term rehabilitation following MVC. Patients were relatively young, thus posing a significant burden on future healthcare utilization. Policymakers should use these findings to guide primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention to improve health outcomes.

Predictors of Seatbelt Use Among Saudi Adults: Results From the National Biobank Project.

Introduction: Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are a leading cause of death and disabilities and impose a significant burden on the healthcare system and economy of Saudi Arabia. Around 20% of all hospital beds are occupied by victims of RTCs, which represent approximately 80% of trauma deaths occurring in these facilities. Using a seatbelt is an effective method to reduce traffic deaths and minimize the extent of associated injuries. However, little is currently known about the prevalence and predictors of seatbelt use in Saudi Arabia. More studies are needed to determine the trends of seatbelt use and study the relationship between individual factors and compliance with seatbelt use laws. The aim of the present study is to examine the prevalence and predictors of seatbelt use using the National Saudi Biobank dataset. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an in-person survey from the Saudi National Biobank (SNB). The participants were adults affiliated with the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Riyadh who were examined between 2017 and 2019. Chi-squared and Wald tests were used to assess the association between the respondents' characteristics and their seatbelt use. In addition, logistic regression models were constructed to assess the univariate and multivariate associations between seatbelt use and potential predictors. All statistical tests were two-sided, and the findings were considered significant at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 5,790 adults participated in the survey. The majority of the participants (52.44%) were between 18 and 25 years old, half were males, and 58.80% were single. About 42.83% of the participants reported consistent seatbelt use as drivers or passengers. In the multivariable analysis, females were 86% less likely to wear seatbelts than males (OR = 0.136, 95%CI = 0.107-0.173). Individuals who rated their mental health as "weak" were 26% less likely to wear seatbelts than those who reported "excellent" mental health status. Conclusion: Seatbelt use remains low in the country and substantially lower than in developed countries. Young adults, females, and individuals reporting suboptimal mental health were less likely to fasten their seatbelts. These findings are valuable for public health programs to target specific groups and raise awareness about the need to increase seatbelt compliance and reduce traffic injuries.