J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Nov;30(11):1625-1630. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1625.

Epidemiology and Regional Distribution of Pediatric Unintentional Emergency Injury in Korea from 2010 to 2011

• Jung JH
• Kim DK
• Jang HY
• Kwak YH

• KMID: 2351113
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1625

Abstract

Injury is a leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents worldwide. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of the pediatric unintentional injuries presenting to the Korean emergency department (ED). We included unintentional injuries in patients aged < 20 yr. Data collected from January 2010 to December 2011 was extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) of Korea. The NEDIS data included information on patient's age and gender, geographic location of the ED visits, mechanism of injuries; and clinical outcomes. Most (94.1%) injuries were unintentional while 5.9% were intentional. The rate of ED visit for pediatric unintentional injury was 6,097 per 100,000 and critical injury was 59.8 per 100,000 (< 20 yr habitants). The mortality rate was 5.4 per 100,000. The mortality rate of pediatric unintentional injuries was 0.1% including the prehospital death and ED death. Unintentional pediatric injuries occurred most commonly in those age 0-4 boys and girls and were predominantly caused by collisions. Male motorcyclists aged 15-19 yr formed a critical injury high-risk group. The rates of critical injury and mortality were highest in Jeju, Gangwon, Gwangju, and Jeonbuk than those in other regions. High-risk groups by age, gender, mechanism and region should be targeted to prevent pediatric injuries in Korea.

Keyword

Pediatrics; Wounds and Injuries; Epidemiology; Korea; Collisions; Motorcycles

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic/*mortality
Adolescent
Age Distribution
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergency Service, Hospital/*statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Regional Medical Programs/*statistics & numerical data
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Survival Rate
Wounds and Injuries/diagnosis/*mortality/*therapy
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 ED visits and critical injuries for pediataric unintentional injuries by month in 2010 and 2011. The rate of emergency department (ED) visits and critical cases for unintentional injuries are higher in May to October than in other months.

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  Fig. 2 Regional distribution in ED visits, critical injuries and mortality for pediatric unintentional injuries. Excluding Jeju, the rate ED visits are higher in Seoul, Daejon, Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Gyeongsanbuk-do. A critical injuries and mortality are higher in Gangwon-do and Jeollabuk-do than in other provinces and cities.

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