Hospitalizations for traumatic injuries among children in Maryland: Trends in incidence and severity: 1979 through 1988

Trends in incidence and severity of hospitalized injury among children aged 0 through 13 years in the state of Maryland from 1979 through 1988 (n = 35746) were examined using routinely reported hospital discharge data. Hospital discharge rates declined over the study period from 509 per 100 000 population in 1979 to 320 in 1988. There was a decline in incidence trends for both races. However, the decrease in the nonwhite population was smaller than in whites. Analysis of incidence rates for specific Injury Severity Score groups revealed a declining trend in all Injury Severity Score groups, although the mildest group (Injury Severity Score 1 through 4) had the most notable decline of 44% compared with an average decline of 20% in the other severity groups. These data suggest a change in admission practices of mildly injured children as a major cause for the observed overall decline in hospitalization rates. The smaller decrease in the hospitalization rates of nonwhite children compared with white children requires further study to determine the cause.