[Injuries in emergency rooms of urban areas in Mexico: prevalence and severity]. / Atención de lesiones por tipo de causa externa en salas de urgencia en tres ciudades de México: composición, frecuencia y gravedad.

OBJECTIVE: To identify frequency and severity of injuries by type of external cause in people attending emergency services for medical attention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study held in the cities of Guadalajara, Colima and Mexico City, from September 2007 to February 2008. All people requiring emergency medical attention due to injuries were included. VARIABLES: sex, age, anatomical area of the injury, type of injury, external cause, type of aggressor and severity according to the abbreviated injury scale. Statistical analysis was univariate simple and multivariate. RESULTS: 26.3% of the emergency medical attention was due to injuries, with the main cause being falls (49.3%). Individuals from 15 to 44 years (55.8%) reported a higher frequency, while those over 60 years presented the most serious injuries. Associated variables to severity were interpersonal aggression (OR 6.7, IC 95% 4.20-10.69) and road traffic injuries (OR 3.00, IC 95% 1.72-5.23). Conclusions. Accidental and intentional injuries represent an important demand of emergency medical attention; with interpersonal aggression and road traffic injuries being responsible for the highest number of serious injuries.

[Factors related with the severity of injuries in public streets of an urban area in Cuernavaca, Morelos,Mexico]. / Factores asociados con la gravedad de lesiones ocurridas en la vía pública en Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with severity of injuries occurring in public streets of an urban area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February and April 2001, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among injured people seeking emergency care at three hospitals in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. Information was also obtained for those who died on accident sites. Data on the following variables were collected: age, sex, alcohol intake, day and time of injury, prehospital care, external cause and nature of injury. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) was used to define severity of injuries. Data analysis consisted of descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate regression models. RESULTS: A total of 492 injured people were included in the study; 23 of them died on site. The main cause of injuries was road traffic accidents (52%); 72% of injuries were not severe. Variables associated with the severity of injuries were: Road traffic accidents (odds ratio [OR] 6.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.52, 17.23), adjusted for age and schooling. CONCLUSION: Road traffic injuries are the main cause of severe injuries. TheAIS is useful to assess the frequency and distribution of injury severity.

Factores asociados con la gravedad de lesiones ocurridas en la vía pública en Cuernavaca, Morelos, México / Severity of injuries in public streets of an urban area in Mexico

OBJETIVO:Identificar los factores asociados con la gravedad de las lesiones ocurridas en la vía pública en personas que demandaron atención médica de urgencia en tres hospitales de la ciudad de Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal efectuado en la ciudad de Cuernavaca, estado de Morelos, durante los meses de febrero a abril de 2001. Incluyó individuos lesionados que demandaron atención a hospitales o que fallecieron en el lugar del accidente. Variables: edad, sexo, ingesta de alcohol, día y hora de ocurrencia, atención pre-hospitalaria, causa externa, tipo de lesión y gravedad con base en la Escala Abreviada de Lesiones. Se utilizó análisis simple bivariado y multivariado. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 492 lesionados, de los cuales 23 fallecieron en el lugar. La principal causa externa fue accidentes de tránsito (52 por ciento), 72 por ciento de los lesionados fueron leves. La variable asociada con gravedad fue accidentes de tránsito (RM 6.59, IC95 por ciento 2.52-17.23), ajustada por edad y escolaridad. CONCLUSIONES: Los accidentes de tránsito de vehículos de motor son los que provocan el mayor número de lesionados graves. El uso de la Escala Abreviada de Lesiones facilita el estudio de su magnitud y distribución de gravedad.