Comparison of survival outcomes and anatomically specific severe injuries following traffic accidents among occupants of standard and K-car vehicles: A retrospective cohort study at a teaching hospital in Japan.

Abstract

Road traffic accidents are a global health concern. K-car vehicles, also known as "mini vehicles," are defined as those having an engine displacement 15, and anatomically specific severe injury of the head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and extremities, defined as Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3. Of 5331 eligible patients, 2384 (44.7%) were K-car vehicle occupants. In propensity score-matched analysis with 1947 pairs, we observed an increase for in-hospital mortality in the K-car vehicle group (2.6% vs. 4.0%, odds ratio 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.19). Compared with standard vehicles, K-car vehicles were associated with a greater risk of severe trauma and serious injuries of the head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and extremities. These study data should be used to encourage vehicle occupants and automobile manufacturers to consider objective facts regarding the safety of vehicles in a traffic accident.