Sports-related injuries in the United States: who gets care and who does not.

Objective: To describe the pattern of sports-related injuries (SRIs), healthcare obtained for these injuries, and factors associated with obtaining healthcare.

Design And Setting: Retrospective analysis of the adult subgroup within the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey dataset from 1996 to 2001, which is weighted to represent all noninstitutionalized US residents.

Participants: Survey participants (2996) aged 0 to 64 years reporting an SRI.

Main Outcome Measurement: Whether healthcare was obtained for an SRI.

Results: A weighted estimate of 6.7 million individuals reported an SRI annually. Two million individuals (30%) did not obtain healthcare for an SRI. Twenty-four percent of those with "serious" injuries did not obtain healthcare. Predictors of obtaining healthcare include the following: an upper extremity injury [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.57, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.17, 2.10]; a "very or somewhat serious" injury (adjusted OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.24, 2.17); and one SRI versus >1 SRI (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.78). Predictors of not obtaining healthcare for an SRI include the following: Black race (adjusted OR 0.59, 95%CI: 0.44, 0.79); no health insurance (adjusted OR 0.45, 95%CI: 0.33, 0.63); and no usual source of care (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.91).

Conclusions: SRIs are common and often patients do not obtain healthcare for these injuries. Among Americans with an SRI, those who are Black, and those who lack insurance or a usual source of care, are at risk for not obtaining care for an SRI. Not obtaining healthcare and lacking knowledge about the consequences of sports injury may lead to unnecessary, additional morbidity and cost. Education targeted at these groups, at their physicians, and at policymakers may help reduce untreated SRIs.