Survival status and predictors of mortality among road traffic accident adult patients admitted to intensive care units of referral hospitals in Tigray 2024

Abstract

Background Globally, road traffic accidents (RTAs) cause over 1.35 million deaths each year, with an additional 50 million people suffering disabilities. Ethiopia has the highest number of road traffic accidents, with over 14,000 people killed and over 45,000 injured annually. This study aimed to assess survival status and predictors of mortality among road traffic accident adult patients admitted to intensive care units of Referral Hospitals in Tigray, 2024. Methods An institution-based retrospective follow-up study design was conducted from January 8, 2019, to December 11, 2023, on 333 patient charts. A bivariable Cox-regression analysis was performed to estimate crude hazard ratios (CHR). Subsequently, a multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the Adjusted Hazard Ratios (AHR). Finally, AHR with p-value less than 0.05 was used to measure the association between dependent and independent variables. Result The incidence of mortality for road traffic accident victims, was 21 per 1000 person-days observation with (95% CI: 16, 27.6) and the median survival time was 14 days. The predictors of mortality in this study were the value of oxygen saturation on admission ≤ 89% (AHR = 4.9; 95%CI: 1.4–17.2), Intracranial hemorrhage (AHR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.02–11), chest injury (AHR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.38–7.59), victims with age catgories of 31–45 years (AHR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.88) and 46–60 years (AHR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06–0.89). Conclusion A concerningly high mortality rate from car accidents were found in Referral Hospitals of Tigray. To improve the survival rates, healthcare providers should focus on victims with very low oxygen levels, head injuries, chest injuries, and older victims.