Injury hospitalizations: using the nationwide inpatient sample.

Background: The aims of this study are to develop estimates of discharge rates and frequencies for all injury-related hospitalizations in the United States for the year 2000 and to characterize patterns of hospitalized injury and anatomic region using a modified Barell Matrix. The utility of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for providing national estimates of hospitalized injuries will be discussed.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of hospital discharge data using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. All hospital discharges with a primary diagnosis of injury were selected. Total number of hospitalizations, annual discharge rates, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by body region, nature of injury, and injury mechanism. Number of injuries by age, sex, body region, and nature of injury were also calculated for falls and motor vehicle crashes.

Results: In 2000, there were an estimated 1,690,780 hospital discharges with a primary injury diagnosis. Discharge rates were highest for the oldest age groups. Falls and motor vehicle crashes were the leading causes of hospitalization. Fracture was the most common diagnosis and lower extremity injury was the most common anatomic region.

Conclusions: Hospital discharge data adds another dimension to our understanding of the total injury burden. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample may be useful in providing national estimates of hospital discharges.