EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROFILE OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT (RTA) CASES ADMITTED IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases constitute the modern epidemic and accidents form a part of it. Injuries due to road traffic accidents are observed to be major causes of mortality and morbidity in India. Objectives: 1. To estimate the burden of Road traffic accidents admitted to Osmania General hospital over 4 months period 2. To determine the socio-demographic profile of accident cases 3. To analyze the factors influencing the accidents Materials And Methods: Study Design: Retrospective study. Study Setting: Osmania General Hospital – Medical Records Department. Study Period: Data collected over 4 month period (September 2011 to end of December 2011) Tools: Medical records of patients admitted with road traffic accidents, a predesigned questionnaire. Results: The total number of road traffic accidents admitted was 450 cases in four months i.e. 112.5 cases/month. This included 381 (84.67%) male and 69 (15.33%) female cases. The average age of victims was 32.32 years. Drivers of vehicles accounted for 64.22% of the victims and 12.80% had no valid license. Around 13 % were under the influence of alcohol. Majority of the admitted cases (54.22%) managed to reach the hospital within 1 hour. The mean lag period was 1.315 hrs. The commonest type of injury was fracture (49.33%) and the most common site of fracture was lower limb (48.2%). Majority had complete cure (49.56%). Fatality rate was 13.11%. Conclusions: Several risk factors such as age, sex, type of vehicle, use of alcohol, absence of driving license, non-use of helmets, casual attitude are associated with increased occurrence of road traffic accidents.