Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission
Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is common following motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). The yearly incidence rate in the Western world has been reported to be around 300 per 100,000 habitants, but no publications have examined yearly incidence across a period that includes the COVID-19 pandemic. A r...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Harpa Ragnarsdóttir Kristín Rut Arnardóttir Kristín Briem Micah Nicholls Hjalti Már Björnsson |
| author_facet | Harpa Ragnarsdóttir Kristín Rut Arnardóttir Kristín Briem Micah Nicholls Hjalti Már Björnsson |
| author_sort | Harpa Ragnarsdóttir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is common following motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). The yearly incidence rate in the Western world has been reported to be around 300 per 100,000 habitants, but no publications have examined yearly incidence across a period that includes the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective, epidemiological study was conducted in Iceland involving data from the University Hospital and the healthcare centers for the Capital Region for all individuals who visited the emergency department during 2010–2024 due to TAs, with a diagnosis indicating whiplash injury. The yearly incidence rate was calculated and presented per 100,000 person-years and analyzed by age, sex, months, and weekdays. The overall incidence of whiplash injuries was 267 per 100,000 person-years, greater for females than males (<i>p</i> < 0.001) with a significant effect of age (<i>p</i> < 0.001), the greatest rate being seen in young adulthood. A significant effect of time was seen across the study period (<i>p</i> < 0.001) due to a sharp decline between 2016 and 2020, followed by a continued low yearly incidence rate, with the smallest one seen in 2024 (78 per 100,000). Despite an increase in MVCs worldwide, the incidence of whiplash injuries following MVCs has declined significantly over the past decade. This trend may reflect shifts in injury patterns, healthcare-seeking behavior, or reporting practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7a41e0b7f7a4c7da8d0413a6aeab59e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e7a41e0b7f7a4c7da8d0413a6aeab59e2025-08-20T02:45:49ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-06-0115798710.3390/life15070987Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury AdmissionHarpa Ragnarsdóttir0Kristín Rut Arnardóttir1Kristín Briem2Micah Nicholls3Hjalti Már Björnsson4Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, IcelandDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, IcelandDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, IcelandÖssur ehf, 110 Reykjavík, IcelandFaculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, 101 Reykjavík, IcelandWhiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is common following motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). The yearly incidence rate in the Western world has been reported to be around 300 per 100,000 habitants, but no publications have examined yearly incidence across a period that includes the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective, epidemiological study was conducted in Iceland involving data from the University Hospital and the healthcare centers for the Capital Region for all individuals who visited the emergency department during 2010–2024 due to TAs, with a diagnosis indicating whiplash injury. The yearly incidence rate was calculated and presented per 100,000 person-years and analyzed by age, sex, months, and weekdays. The overall incidence of whiplash injuries was 267 per 100,000 person-years, greater for females than males (<i>p</i> < 0.001) with a significant effect of age (<i>p</i> < 0.001), the greatest rate being seen in young adulthood. A significant effect of time was seen across the study period (<i>p</i> < 0.001) due to a sharp decline between 2016 and 2020, followed by a continued low yearly incidence rate, with the smallest one seen in 2024 (78 per 100,000). Despite an increase in MVCs worldwide, the incidence of whiplash injuries following MVCs has declined significantly over the past decade. This trend may reflect shifts in injury patterns, healthcare-seeking behavior, or reporting practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/7/987neck paincervical spinemotor vehicle accidentscar collisioncar accidentswhiplash-associated disorders |
| spellingShingle | Harpa Ragnarsdóttir Kristín Rut Arnardóttir Kristín Briem Micah Nicholls Hjalti Már Björnsson Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission Life neck pain cervical spine motor vehicle accidents car collision car accidents whiplash-associated disorders |
| title | Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission |
| title_full | Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission |
| title_fullStr | Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission |
| title_short | Fifteen Years of Emergency Visits for Whiplash Injuries: Impact of COVID-19 and Campaign to Reduce Minor Injury Admission |
| title_sort | fifteen years of emergency visits for whiplash injuries impact of covid 19 and campaign to reduce minor injury admission |
| topic | neck pain cervical spine motor vehicle accidents car collision car accidents whiplash-associated disorders |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/7/987 |
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