Health
Cost of injuries extends beyond medical expenses
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 9, 2004
Injuries cost the United States an estimated $117 billion in medical expenses each year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. The estimate represents about 10% of total medical spending and is similar in magnitude to the medical costs associated with other leading health concerns.
"The medical costs associated with injuries are staggering, but it's just the tip of the iceberg," said CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH. "When we add in productivity losses, decreased quality of life and the emotional toll that injuries and disabilities have on families, the problem is enormous."
The report, published in the Jan. 16 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, revealed that 16% of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population reported treatment for at least one injury in 2000. Falls accounted for at least 33% of the total medical costs of injuries, and motor vehicle crashes accounted for at least 18%.
Sue Binder, MD, director of the CDC Injury Prevention Center, said that communities can have a dramatic impact on reducing injuries by implementing programs that foster the increased use of seat belts and child safety restraints and encouraging exercise programs that help prevent falls among older adults.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/02/09/hlbf0209.htm.
