The epidemiology of traumatic death. A population-based analysis
S. R. Shackford, R. C. Mackersie, T. L. Holbrook, J. W. Davis, P. Hollingsworth-Fridlund, D. B. Hoyt and P. L. Wolf
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington.
Despite the proliferation of trauma systems, there are no population-based
data describing the epidemiology of traumatic death. To provide these data,
we reviewed all trauma deaths occurring in San Diego (California) County
during 1 year. There were 625 traumatic deaths during the study (27.3
deaths per 100,000 population per year). Motor vehicle trauma was the most
common cause of injury leading to death (N = 344 [55.2%]; 15.0 annual
deaths per 100,000 population). Central nervous system injuries were the
most common cause of death (48.5%, or 13.2 deaths per 100,000 population
per year). Sepsis was responsible for only 2.5% of the overall mortality.
Based on life-table data, traumatic death resulted in an annual loss of
1091 years of life per 100,000 and an annual loss of 492 years of
productivity per 100,000. Injury continues to account for an enormous loss
of life despite improvements in survival wrought by trauma systems.
