Baseline characteristics of the study population (n = 19 338)
| Characteristic | No. of patients (%) |
|---|---|
| Sex | |
| Female | 5675 (29.4) |
| Male | 13 663 (70.7) |
| Age group, yr | |
| < 12 | 1013 (5.2) |
| 13–17 | 1293 (6.7) |
| 18–29 | 3743 (19.4) |
| 30–49 | 4625 (23.9) |
| 50–69 | 4613 (23.9) |
| 70+ | 4051 (21) |
| Neighbourhood income quintile | |
| Lowest | 4313 (22.3) |
| Next to lowest | 4008 (20.7) |
| Middle | 3710 (19.2) |
| Next to highest | 3786 (19.6) |
| Highest | 3381 (17.5) |
| Missing | 140 (0.7) |
| Rurality | |
| Rural or small town | 3357 (17.4) |
| Urban | 15 981 (82.6) |
| Total score of Elixhauser Comorbidity Index* | |
| 0 | 14 824 (76.7) |
| 1 | 2274 (11.8) |
| 2+ | 2240 (11.6) |
| Comorbid conditions* | |
| Cardiovascular disorders NOS | 1120 (5.8) |
| Hypertension | 1081 (5.6) |
| Neurological disorders | 554 (2.9) |
| Chronic pulmonary disease | 780 (4) |
| Diabetes | 1005 (5.2) |
| Hypothyroidism | 64 (0.3) |
| Renal failure | 243 (1.3) |
| Liver disease | 167 (0.9) |
| Peptic ulcer disease, excluding bleeding | 44 (0.2) |
| AIDS or HIV | 16 (0.1) |
| Cancer | 308 (1.6) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis or collagen vascular diseases | 63 (0.3) |
| Coagulopathy | 150 (0.8) |
| Obesity | 49 (0.3) |
| Weight loss | 102 (0.5) |
| Fluid and electrolyte disorders | 593 (3.1) |
| Anemia | 109 (0.6) |
| Inpatient admission in 5 years before injury | |
| Any mental health condition | 1386 (7.2) |
| Anxiety and other neurotic disorders | 339 (1.8) |
| Mood disorders | 699 (3.6) |
| Substance abuse and related disorders | 821 (4.3) |
| Self-harm behaviours | 97 (0.5) |
Note: NOS = not otherwise specified.
↵* Within 3 years before injury.