Resumen en español

Introduction: Traffic accidents (TA) cause 1.23 million deaths each year worldwide while between 20 and 50 million persons are injured each year. In 2011 in Medellin, Colombia, there were 307 traffic deaths and 23,835 injured with 411 accidents for each 10,000 vehicles. Objective: The purpose of the study was to describe the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, as well as the quality of life and disability outcomes for those injured in traffic accidents in Medellin. Methods: This prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study collected data from 834 patients that were classified with the New Injury Severity Score (NISS) , the WHODAS-II (Disability Assessment) Scale and the SF-36 Health Survey. Results: Three-fourths (75.8%) of the patients were male. Eightyone percent of patients were involved in motorcycle accidents, with 45.6% suffering moderate trauma, and 32.6% experiencing severe trauma. Of the patients with severe trauma, 8.5% were not wearing helmets. Half of the sample (49.7%) injured their extremities. The WHODAS-II domains most affected were: Activities outside the home (62.0 %), Housework (54.3%) and Moving in one’s environment (45.2 %). Quality of life areas affected were: Physical role (20.3), Body pain (37.3 %) Emotional role (44.1%), Physical functioning (52.6 %). Conclusions: Patients with more severe injuries had higher levels of disability and a worse quality of life. Motorcycles made up a large proportion of traffic accidents in this city and mitigation strategies to reduce this public health problem should particularly focus on this high-risk group. Antecedentes: Los accidentes de tránsito (AT) causan 1.23 millones de muertes en el mundo, y entre 20 y 50 millones sufren lesiones no fatales. En Medellín (Colombia) en el 2011 hubo 307 muertos en AT y 23,835 heridos, con 411 accidentes por cada 10.000 vehículos. Objetivo: Describir las características epidemiológicas, clínicas, de calidad de vida y discapacidad de los pacientes luego de un AT en Medellín. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo trasversal prospectivo del estado inicial de una cohorte de 834 pacientes, clasificados de acuerdo a la gravedad de trauma (NISS) y las escalas WHO-DAS II y SF-36. Resultados: En el 81% de los AT estuvieron involucradas motos, con lesiones moderadas en el 45.6 %, y graves en el 32.6% de ellos. No utilizaban casco el 8.5% de los pacientes con NISS grave. En el 49.7% se afectaron los miembros inferiores. Los dominios del WHO-DAS II más afectados fueron: actividades fuera del hogar 62,0 actividades domésticas (54.3) y moverse en el entorno (45.2) La calidad de vida comprometió los dominios de desempeño físico (20.3) dolor corporal (37.3) desempeño emocional (44.1) y funcionamiento físico (52.6) Conclusiones: Los pacientes con lesiones más graves tuvieron mayor compromiso en la discapacidad y en la calidad de vida. Esta carga de enfermedad la producen principalmente los AT en los que están involucradas las motos.