Injury related hospitalization: evidence from one year retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Injury remains a significant global public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the IHME data Georgia has slightly higher rates of Injury-related DALYs, then WHO European Region average and significantly exceed the average of the Upper Middle Income countries group, to which country belongs according to the World Bank classification. The aim of the study was to explore the epidemiological characteristics of injury in Georgia. METHODS: This study was designed in the framework of NIH-Fogarty International Trauma Training Program iCREATE. Hospitalization Database of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia for 2021 was used for the retrospective study. Hospitalization database includes data from all hospitals of the country. Injury related cases were identified using ICD-10 classifications (S and T codes). RESULTS: A total of 564411 patients, among them 29228 injured patients were admitted in all hospitals of Georgia in 2021. 61% of injured patients were males and 39% females, retrospectively with ratio 1:1.5. The mean age of injured patients was 42(±25) and the highest hospitalization was in the age group of 30-34. The leading cause of injuries was falls (51.9%) followed by accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors (15.5%) and road traffic injuries (9.5%). Most of injured patients (45%) were treated in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. The most common source of hospital arrival was ambulance (47%), followed by private/public transport (46%), the 7% of patients needed referral from one hospital to another. The average of LOS was 4 days. 1% of patients died, among them 67% were males and 33% females. The most common mechanism of fatal injuries was falls (47%), followed by transport accidents (24%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provide baseline information about epidemiological characteristics of Injuries based on hospitalization database and identify direction for the future research. KEY MESSAGES: • In Georgia there is a need for elaborating relevant preventive interventions of injuries in population. • In LMICs there is a lack of data on Injuries which are essential for elaborating relevant preventive interventions.