Hospital charges associated with motorcycle crash factors: a quantile regression analysis

• Published in: Injury prevention Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 276 - 280
• Main Authors: Olsen, Cody S, Thomas, Andrea M, Cook, Lawrence J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group 01.08.2014; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - economics; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Alcohol; Biological and medical sciences; Cost of Illness; Datasets; Emergency medical care; Emergency medical services; Emergency Medical Services - economics; Fatalities; Female; Head injuries; Head Protective Devices - economics; Head Protective Devices - utilization; Helmets; Hospital Charges - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Medical records; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Missing data; Motorcycles; Prevention and actions; Protective equipment; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Regression Analysis; Speed limits; Trauma; Utah; Wounds and Injuries - economics; Wounds and Injuries - etiology; Wounds and Injuries - prevention & control; Young Adult; Utah; United States > US; Costs; Factor analysis; Association; Health economy; Risk factor; Motor cycle; Hospitalization; Motor vehicle; Regression analysis; Epidemiology; Public health
• ISSN: 1353-8047; 1475-5785
• DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040881

Background Previous studies of motorcycle crash (MC) related hospital charges use trauma registries and hospital records, and do not adjust for the number of motorcyclists not requiring medical attention. This may lead to conservative estimates of helmet use effectiveness. Methods MC records were probabilistically linked with emergency department and hospital records to obtain total hospital charges. Missing data were imputed. Multivariable quantile regression estimated reductions in hospital charges associated with helmet use and other crash factors. Results Motorcycle helmets were associated with reduced median hospital charges of $256 (42% reduction) and reduced 98th percentile of $32 390 (33% reduction). After adjusting for other factors, helmets were associated with reductions in charges in all upper percentiles studied. Quantile regression models described homogenous and heterogeneous associations between other crash factors and charges. Conclusions Quantile regression comprehensively describes associations between crash factors and hospital charges. Helmet use among motorcyclists is associated with decreased hospital charges.