Cycling-related injuries and cycling promotion: a trauma service perspective

Abstract

Aim: Current policy direction seeks to promote participation in both recreational and active transport cycling. We evaluate cycling-related injuries resulting in hospital admission across the Midland Region of New Zealand to establish injury trends.

Method: A retrospective review of anonymised prospectively-collected trauma registry data from 1 June 2012 to 31 July 2016 in the Midland Region. Cases include patients hospitalised with cycling-related injuries.

Results: Nine hundred and ninety-eight cyclists were admitted to hospital (2012-2016). Admission volumes increased approximately 16.8% per year, major trauma by 11.9% and non-major trauma by 17.8%. Overall, 66.7% of admissions were for people aged over 20 years and 73.4% were for males. The participation-adjusted annual injury rate was 78.4 per 100,000. This masked considerable variation by gender, age group and injury severity.

Conclusion: Hospital admission volumes and rates are rising with underlying variation in patient demography, place and severity of injury. Current policy direction to grow cycling participation based on the health, environmental and economic benefits is ahead of the implementation of safer cycling infrastructure, creating a timing lag. From a regional hospital-based trauma service perspective, this timing lag needs due consideration if the full benefits of increasing participation are to be realised.