A web-based prospective cohort study of home, leisure, school and sports injuries in France: a descriptive analysis

BACKGROUND: Home and leisure injuries (HLIs) are a major public health problem. Cohort studies among general population are needed for targeted preventive actions but remain scarce. We quantify and qualify the HLIs collected prospectively in the MAVIE (Mutualists against Home and Leisure Injuries) observatory, a web-based cohort among volunteers of the French general population. METHODS: Participants reported HLIs from November 2014 to December 2019. We calculated crude and standardized incidence rates (SIRs) on the entire cohort, for each of the selected socio-demographic variables and each of the injury circumstances (place and activity), mechanisms, and injury severity levels. We also described other HLIs characteristics and consequences. RESULTS: Out of the 29,931 household members enrolled in the cohort, 12,419 participants completed the questionnaires. Among them, 8640 participants provided follow-up data, leading to a follow-up of 6302 persons for 5.2 years and 2483 HLIs were reported. We obtained a SIR of 85.0 HLIs per 1000 persons-years. Most reported injuries did not require emergency department attendance or hospitalization (64%). SIRs were higher in children (< 15 years of age) (109.1 HLIs per 1000 persons-years; 95% CI, 78.2–140.1) and adults aged 70 years and older (123.7 HLIs per 1000 persons-years; 95% CI, 79.2–168.3). Struck or hit by fall was the most frequent injury mechanism (52%) and also among the most severe injuries (73% of Struck or hit by fall HLIs ending with hospitalization). Sport (without contact with nature), and leisure and play activities were the injury circumstances with higher SIRs, 15.2 HLIs per 1000 persons-years (95% CI, 14.6–15.8) and 11.2 HLIs per 1000 persons-years (95% CI, 10.7–11.6), respectively. Outdoor sport activity (in contact with nature) was the circumstance with the highest proportion of hospitalizations (18% of outdoor sports HLIs ending with hospitalization). CONCLUSION: The incidences, causes, and consequences of HLI differ by age group and are mainly related to the performance of certain activities. Although the participants in the MAVIE cohort were not representative of the French population. Our study identified potential sub-populations and specific types of HLIs that should be targeted by future studies concerning risk factors and prevention programs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40621-021-00343-9.