The epidemiology of sports and leisure-related injury hospitalisations in Queensland: A five-year review

Daniel Brimm; John Roe; Jacelle Warren; Tanya Smyth; Kirsten Vallmuur; Shahera Banu

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2023.04.035

The epidemiology of sports and leisure-related injury hospitalisations in Queensland: A five-year review

Injury. 2023 Apr 20:S0020-1383(23)00377-7. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2023.04.035. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Daniel Brimm¹, John Roe², Jacelle Warren³, Tanya Smyth⁴, Kirsten Vallmuur³, Shahera Banu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, QLD 4757, Australia; Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Health, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia. Electronic address: daniel.brimm@health.qld.gov.au.
² Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Health, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia; The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD 4066, Australia; The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia.
³ Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Health, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
⁴ Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Health, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia.
⁵ Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Health, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.

PMID: 37100695
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2023.04.035

Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of sports and leisure-related injury hospitalisations in Queensland DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected hospital admissions data from all Queensland hospitals (public and private) between 2012 and 2016 for injury-related admissions where the activity engaged in when injured was coded as sports or leisure activity.

Main outcome measures: Number of hospitalisations; rate of hospitalisation per 100,000 population and demographic, injury, treatment, and outcome details of hospitalised injury patients.

Results: Between 01 January 2012 and 31 December 2016, 76,982 people were hospitalised for a sports or leisure-related injury in Queensland. More people were hospitalised in public hospitals than private. Rates were highest for those under 14 years (601.5/100,000 population) and were higher in males (130.6/100,000 population) than females (28.9/100,000 population). A total of 18,734 injuries (24.3%; 79.5/100,000 population) were sustained while playing team ball sports, with rugby codes (rugby union, rugby league and rugby unspecified) representing the single largest source of injuries with 6,592. The extremities were the most likely body location of injury (46,644; 198/100,000 population), and the most common injury type was a fracture (35,018; 148.6/100,000 population).

Conclusions: The findings highlight the significant burden of sport and leisure-related injury hospitalisations in Queensland. This information is important for injury prevention and trauma system planning.

Keywords: Australia; Epidemiology; Hospitalisation; Injuries; Injury; Queensland; Sport; Sports.