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Nature and risk factors of injury hospitalization in young adults: A follow-up of 135,987 military conscripts

Centre for Military Medicine, Lahti and Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Ville.Mattila{at}uta.fi

Pentti Kuronen

Department of Medical Services, Defence Staff, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland

Harri Pihlajamäki

Centre for Military Medicine, Lahti and Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, Department of Medical Services, Defence Staff, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland

Aims: This study attempted to investigate the nature and risk factors of injury hospitalization among Finnish conscripts in 1998—2002. Methods: Altogether 135,987 military conscripts, including 2,044 (1.5%) women, were followed during their 6-to 12-month service in 1998—2002. Data on injury hospitalizations were obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Register. Outcome variables were injury hospitalization, multiple injury hospitalization, and hospitalization due to lower limb injury. Background variables consisted of conscripts' service and physical fitness data. Results: Injury hospitalization occurred among 6,059 (4.5%) conscripts, in 530 (0.4%) of them more than once. The total number of hospitalizations was 7,187, of which 50% were due to lower limb injuries. Most injuries (57%) were dislocations and sprains of joints and ligaments. The strongest risk factors for injury hospitalization in the multivariate logistic regression models were female sex (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.9—2.7), and overweight (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2—1.7). These odds ratios increased when multiple injuries were investigated separately. Excellent aerobic fitness was a specific risk factor for lower limb injury (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1— 1.5). Conclusions: Women were markedly more likely than men to be hospitalized for injury. Moreover, overweight predicted an increased injury risk. Generalizable to the young adult population, the findings should be considered when identifying targets for injury prevention measures.

Key Words: Conscript • epidemiology • hospitalization • military • risk factors • wounds and injuries

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