Medina Feliz, J.X. (2018) E-bike accidents are associated with major trauma, especially in the elderly. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background Recent years there has been a worldwide increase in the popularity of the electric bicycle or e-bike. In the Netherlands, it is especially popular in the elderly. The Dutch population is becoming older and multiple studies have shown that e-bikers, in comparison to conventional bicyclists, are more likely to be involved in an accident that requires treatment at an Emergency Department (ED)(1–3). In our opinion this is a relevant research topic for now and for the future. Objective To describe differences in patient characteristics between e-bikers and conventional bicyclists and to gain more insight in injury severity and mortality for e-bikers and conventional bicyclists following a bicycle accident. Material and methods Between July 2014 and December 2017 a database has been established with patient-, accident- and injury characteristics of every person coming to the Emergency Room or Trauma department of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) after a bicycle accident. Chi-squared-, the Fisher’s exact- and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to identify differences between e-bikers and conventional bicyclists. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine predisposing factors for major trauma after bicycle accident and mortality. Results There were in total 1544 included patients, 200 (13%) e-bikers (EB) and 1344 (87%) conventional bicyclists (CB). Median age (Q1-Q3) was 64,5 (58-74) and 40 (23,25-60) in the EB group and CB group, respectively. There were 156 (78%) patients and 523 (38,9%) patients with comorbidity in the EB group and CB group, respectively. The median (Q1-Q3) Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI) was 1 (0-2) and 0 (0-1) for the EB group and CB group, respectively. E-bikers had a significant higher Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) for the Head-and-Neck (P<0,001). Multivariable analysis showed that significant (P<0,01) predisposing factors for major trauma after bicycle accident were type of bicycle (OR=4,00), age group elderly (OR=4,928), gender (OR=2,984) and an accident with a motorized vehicle (OR=2,359). Multivariable analysis showed that there was a trend to significant association between type of bicycle and mortality (P=0.087). Conclusion The present study shows that e-bikers who sustain an accident are older and have more comorbidities than conventional bicyclists. Furthermore it shows that an e-bike is significantly associated with an increased risk for major trauma, especially in the elderly with a fivefold increased risk. E-bikers also had significantly worse head injuries. Precautionary measures should be taken.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Supervisors: and Poos, H.P.A.M. MD and Wendt, K.W. MD PHD and Moumni, M. El MD PHD and Reininga, .H.F. PHD |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:42 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:42 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/398 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |