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ED-treated and fatal injuries cost US $671 billion in 2013

The estimated lifetime medical and work-loss costs related to fatal and nonfatal injuries treated in ED was determined to be $671 billion in 2013, according to CDC reports published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Curtis Florence, PhD, and colleagues reported that costs related to ED-treated injuries amounted to $456.9 billion and costs related to fatal injuries amounted to $214 billion.

The researchers utilized the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program, the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System, the National Vital Statistics System and other surveys and data to evaluate information relevant to the economic impact of injury.

Results showed males accounted for 65% of ED-treated nonfatal injuries and 67% of injury deaths. Injuries from falls represented 37% of the cost of ED-treated nonfatal injuries, followed by 21% from transportation-related injuries.

Additionally, unintentional injury deaths represented 61% ($129.7 billion) of the cost of fatal injuries in 2013; suicide represented 24% ($50.8 billion) and homicide represented 12% ($26.4 billion). Drug poisonings represented 26% of cost of fatal injuries, followed by transportation-related deaths (23%), firearm-associated deaths (22%), suffocation deaths (9%) and deaths from falls (5%).

"The magnitude of costs associated with injury underscores the need for effective prevention," Deb Houry, MD, MPH, director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, said in a press release. "Communities and states must increase efforts to implement evidence-based programs and policies to prevent injuries and violence to reduce not only the pain and suffering of people, but the considerable costs to society."

Florence and colleagues detailed several strategies in their report.

"For example, primary seat belt laws, motorcycle helmet laws, sobriety checkpoints, and alcohol interlocks are effective in preventing motor vehicle-related injuries and can produce substantial economic benefits that greatly exceed the implementation of costs," they wrote. – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes