Health-Related Quality of Life Profiles among Patients with Different Road Traffic Injuries in an Urban Setting of Vietnam.

Hai Minh Vu,Tung Hoang Tran,Bach Xuan Tran,Cuong Tat Nguyen,Anh Kim Dang,Tung Thanh Tran,Kiet Tuan Huy Pham,Cyrus S.H Ho,Nu Thi Truong,Roger C.M Ho,Anh Van Doan,Giang Thu Vu,Carl A Latkin

doi:10.3390/ijerph16081462

Abstract

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) cause a substantial disease burden in Vietnam. Evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients having a diversity of RTIs informs an integral part of treatment effectiveness. This study aims to examine HRQOL of patients suffering different RTIs in Vietnam’s urban areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 408 patients from October to December 2018 in six hospitals in Thai Binh. The EuroQol-5 dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess the HRQOL of patients. Multivariable Tobit regression was applied to measure the difference of HRQOL among different kinds of injuries. The mean EQ-5D-5L and VAS score was 0.40–0.66, respectively. Mean EQ-5D-5L index was lowest in patients with oral and facial injuries (0.22) and fracture injuries (0.23), while patients having hand injuries had the highest EQ-5D-5L index (0.54). EQ-5D-5L index had a negative association with oral, facial, and fracture injuries. Meanwhile, patients with brain, fracture, and multiple injuries tended to have lower VAS score. Poor HRQOL among patients injured in road traffic were observed. Pain management, early rehabilitation, and mental health counseling services should be considered during treatment time, especially among those having the brain, oral and facial trauma, fracture, and multiple injuries.

Highlights

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) have raised health concerns globally due to their substantial health and economic burden
The results show that patients with self-accident were more likely to have a higher score of EQ-5D-5L index and visual analog scale (VAS)
We found that patients with hand injuries were more likely to have higher EQ-5D-5L index score

Summary

Introduction

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) have raised health concerns globally due to their substantial health and economic burden. In 2016, RTIs were responsible for approximately 1.35 million deaths and up to 50 million injured individuals [2]. It is estimated that the economic burden placed by RTIs is US $518 billion globally, accounting for 3% of most countries’. People suffering from RTIs are more likely to have disabilities with long-term consequences rather than premature death [4]. This can be explained by the reduction of road fatalities and the increase of surviving likelihood after serious injuries [5]

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Conclusion