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Obese drivers more likely to die of traffic-related injuries
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It has been established that obesity increases the risk for morbidity and decreases quality of life. In a study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, researchers suggest that obese vehicle drivers are more likely to succumb to collision-related injuries compared with nonobese vehicle occupants in the same incident.
“The ability of passenger vehicles to protect overweight or obese occupants may have increasingly important public health implications, given the continuing obesity epidemic in the USA,” researchers wrote.
Using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and other data, researchers identified 6,806 drivers involved in 3,403 collisions and conducted a matched-pair cohort study.
The researchers found that risk ratios were raised for underweight drivers (RR=1.19; 95% CI, 0.86-1.63). According to data, RRs increased with higher BMI categories: RR=1.21; 95% CI, 0.98-1.49 for BMI 30 to 34.9; RR=1.51; 95% CI, 1.10-2.08 for BMI 35 to 39.9; and RR=1.80; 95% CI, 1.15-2.84 for BMI ≥40. In addition, the risk for each BMI category was greater for women compared with men.
“Increased comorbidities among obese vehicle occupants are a probable contributor to their poor injury outcomes,” the researchers wrote.
Thus, education through clinical intervention is suggested by the researchers.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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