Epidemiology and trends of ocular trauma hospitalizations in Chile from 2001 to 2020

Abstract

To describe and analyze the characteristics and trends of hospital admissions for ocular trauma in Chile between 2001 and 2020. We assessed hospitalizations due to ocular trauma in Chile using data from the hospital discharge registry of Chile's Department of Statistics and Health (DEIS). The JoinPoint regression analysis software was used to perform a trend analysis. From 2001 to 2020, a total of 37,425 patients were hospitalized in Chile with a diagnosis of "Injury of eye and orbit". The mean age was 36.7years, the mean length of stay was 6.85days, 82.4% of the patients were males, and 30.5% were open globe injuries. The average annual hospitalization rate over this period was 11.1/100,000 in the entire population (95% CI: 9.6-12.7), 18.7/100,000 in men (95% CI: 16-21.3) and 3.9/100,000 in women (95% CI: 3.3-4.5). Based on JoinPoint analysis, two temporal trends were identified for hospital admissions. Between 2001 and 2009, hospital admissions decreased 0.1% per year (P=0.876) and between 2009 and 2020 decreased 8.4% per year (P<0.001). On average, hospitalization rates decreased 5.3% per year (P<0.001) over the entire study period. Trauma is a significant cause of ocular morbidity in Chile, occurring mainly in middle-aged men. Since 2009, a significant decrease has been observed in hospitalization rates for ocular trauma in Chile.