Hospitalizations for injury: United States, 1996.

OBJECTIVES

This report presents national estimates of the 1996 hospitalizations for injury in the United States. Numbers and rates of discharges are shown within sex, age, and racial groups by type of injury. Average lengths of stay and days of care data by injury type are also included.

METHODS

Estimates are based on medical abstract data collected in the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Diagnoses are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Injuries are defined as ICD-9-CM codes 800-999. External causes of injury are defined as codes E800-E999 (E-codes).

RESULTS

In 1996, there were 2.6 million hospitalizations for injury. Fractures resulted in over a million hospitalizations; medical injuries, including adverse effects and complications, were responsible for 666,000 hospitalizations. The medical records for 64 percent of the patients hospitalized for injuries had an external cause-of-injury code (E-code). Elderly people had the largest number and rate of injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Data on injuries requiring hospitalization and characteristics of patients differentially affected can be used to design and target more effective injury prevention programs. Preventing injuries would decrease the considerable pain, disability, and economic impact associated with these conditions.