Injured moped riders who required admission to hospital in Sweden from 1987 to 1994.

OBJECTIVES

To find out the incidence, extent of injury, medical consequences, and mortality rate of moped riders involved in crashes in Sweden.

DESIGN

Retrospective case study.

SETTING

The Swedish Hospital Discharge Register (SHDR).

SUBJECTS

4716 moped riders, a total of 5857 admissions to Swedish hospitals from 1987-94.

INTERVENTIONS

Statistical analysis of the Register.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of injured moped riders in Sweden, mortality rate, types of injuries, and medical consequences.

RESULTS

From 1987 to 1994, Swedish hospitals admitted 4716 moped riders (5857 admissions) injured in crashes, which corresponds to a mean of 8.5 injured/100 000 population a year. Of these 3993 were male (85%) and 723 female (15%), with a median age of 16 years (range 3-93). Twenty-four percent of those admitted to hospital spent more than a week there. The annual number of injured moped riders did not change significantly during this period. The total number of deaths in hospital was 59 (1%). Among those who died in hospital, 32 (54%) had head injuries, 16 (27%) fractures, and 5 (9%) abdominal or thoracic injuries.

CONCLUSION

The number of injured moped riders in Sweden is low. Fractures of the extremities were most common, followed by injuries to the head and brain. The usual victim was a teenager or young man. Of the patients treated in hospital few died, most of whom were elderly men.