Disability status: a risk factor in injury epidemiologic research

Abstract

Objective: We reviewed publications about nonfatal injuries among individuals with existing disabilities.

Methods: We identified original research articles reporting nonfatal injuries among individuals with disabilities by using three approaches: Search the PUBMED and MEDLINE electronic databases; scrutiny of the reference sections of identified publications; search of our own files. Studies that reported odds ratios or rate ratios of injuries for the disability variable and demographic variables of age, gender, race, and school education were included.

Results: A significantly greater risk of injuries was found among individuals with disabilities compared with their peers. Findings were consistent among studies in children, adults, and workers with disabilities. This association did not seem to be explained by physical environmental hazards alone or study bias. We found no original study that developed and evaluated injury prevention programs targeting individuals with disabilities.

Conclusions: Disability status should be considered as an important covariate in injury epidemiologic research, particularly in injury research among older populations and in children with special care needs. Future research is needed to develop and to evaluate multidisciplinary interventions to prevent injuries among individuals with disabilities.

Keywords: Disability; Injury; Nonfatal.