Abstract
ABSTRACT Study objective - To survey all injuries treated in Longyearbyen hospital, Svalbard and to describe the injury epidemiology for Svalbard (residents and visitors), comparing it with Harstad. Setting - The Norwegian arctic archipelago, Svalbard and the mainland city Harstad during three years from 8 March 1997. Participants - The person years of the study were 4211 for Svalbard residents and 69014 for Harstad. Measurements and main results - The variables followed the Nordic system. Of 630 recorded injuries, 107 were snowmobile related. Crude injury rates (per 100 person years) for Svalbard residents were for men 100.9 and for women 76.3. Corresponding rates were not significantly higher for men in Harstad (115.4, p=0.19) and for women (80.1, p=0.56). Home injuries were more prevalent in Harstad (30.5%) compared to Svalbard residents (13,1%, p<0.001) and visitors (8.9%, p<0.001). Work and leisure related injuries were more prevalent for Svalbard visitors (38.8% and 48.7%) and residents (27.2% and 41,9%) compared to Harstad (13.2% and 34.8%) (both p<0.001). 43.5% of Svalbard visitors sustained work related injuries at sea. These injuries had higher AIS (abbreviated injury scale) mean score (1.83) than visitors’ work injuries occurring on land (1.41) (p<0.05) and residents’ work injuries (1.29) (p<0.001). Harstad had lowest AIS score for work related injuries (1.24). The violence rate (per 1000 person years) was 0.9 for Svalbard residents, less than a third of the Harstad rate (p<0.02). There was one Svalbard resident fatality (drowning). (Int J Circumpolar Health 2001; 60: 184-195)
Published Version
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