Age-Specific Analysis of Injury; In Between Youth and Old, Late Middle Ages Increases Injury Vulnerability

Introduction Injury is a leading cause of both mortality and moderate and severe disability. Injury is considered preventable, and there had been many injury prevention strategies in the past. Age is one factor that affects the injury characteristics in the host. This study aimed to investigate the national prevalence of injury by age groups to probe new strategies of injury prevention. Material & Method The multi-center and large dataset was collected from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) in South Korea, consisting of adult patients' information between January 2011 and December 2017 from a total of 25 Emergency department. Patients were divided into four groups by age: 18 to 34years as group 1; 35 to 49years, group 2; 50 to 64years, group 3; 65years and over, group 4.Mode of injury and place of injury, and for outcome measures, ICU admission, ED death, and injury severity based on EMR-ISS were analyzed. Result A total of 1,221,746 patients were included, and each age group had a different injury pattern. Group 3 injury outcomes and injured body parts are similar to Group 4. This why old age injury prevention strategies should be devised right from the middle age, not after the old age. When age is younger, patients get injured more in the upper and lower extremities than the core or trunk. Conclusion In our study, each age group shows diverse characteristics in mode of injury, place, time, and outcome. Therefore, it is imperative that all age groups have their own injury prevention method.