Determinants of High Mortality Rate Among Road Traffic Accident Victims Presenting to the Emergency Department of DHQ Hospital, Karak

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents are a serious public health issue and a major global cause of injury-related mortality. Emergency care is frequently needed for victims with serious conditions such respiratory arrest, brain injuries, and cardiovascular arrest. Transportation delays, inadequate pre-hospital care, and hospital resource limitations may raise the risk of death for accident victims in many developing nations. Objective: To determine the factors contributing to the high death rate among victims of traffic accidents who present to the Emergency Medical Care (EMC) Department of DHQ Hospital, Karak, with cardiovascular arrest, head trauma, and respiratory arrest. Method: The EMC Department of DHQ Hospital in Karak was the site of an observational study. The study comprised 192 victims of traffic accidents. Demographic information, the mechanism of injury, the mode of transportation, pre-hospital treatment, the clinical state upon arrival, emergency management, and patient outcomes were all gathered. The collected data was analyzed using logistic regression, Pearson correlation, and descriptive statistics to identify factors associated with mortality. Results: Males accounted for 69.27% of cases, while the age group most afflicted was 19–30 years old (35.94%). Motorbike accidents were the leading cause of injuries (35.60%). Over half (61.46%) of the patients were transported in ambulances. Pre-hospital cardiac resuscitation was performed in 52.08% of patients, while airway management was tried in 48.96% of cases. In 63.02% of cases, uncontrolled bleeding was reported, and in 60.42% of cases, ambulances arrived late. Most patients were assessed within fifteen minutes of arriving at the emergency room. The final data showed that 30.21% of patients died in the emergency department, 43.23% of patients survived and were released, and 26.04% of patients were sent to tertiary care institutions. Conclusion: The results show that severe injuries, delayed pre-hospital care, and emergency system constraints are significant factors in patient fatality. It may be possible to lower the number of fatalities among victims of traffic accidents by bolstering emergency response systems, enhancing pre-hospital treatment, and guaranteeing sufficient hospital resources.