Injury visits to hospital emergency departments: United States, 1992-95.

Abstract

From 1992 through 1995, an estimated 147 million visits for injuries were made to hospital emergency departments in the United States, an average of 36.8 million visits per year with an annual utilization rate of 14.3 visits per 100 persons. Persons 15-24 years had a higher rate of injury-related emergency department visits compared with other age groups. The injury visit rate was higher in the Midwest than in the South or West. Injury visits represented 37.8 percent of all visits to hospital emergency departments but 53.5 percent of all visits for children between 5 and 14 years and 48.5 percent of all visits for persons 15-24 years. Open wounds accounted for the largest proportion of injuries (22.0 percent). The leading external causes of injuries included falls, being struck by or striking against a person or object, and motor vehicle traffic injuries. For all ages, 6.3 percent of the injury visits had a disposition of admission for inpatient care, while almost one-quarter of injury visits by persons 65 years and over resulted in hospitalization. ED visits caused by poisonings or firearm injuries were more likely to result in hospitalization compared with other causes.