Epidemiology of Emergency Medical Services Activations for Sport-Related Injuries in the United States

Abstract

BackgroundLiterature examining emergency medical services (EMS) activations for sport-related injuries is limited to the pediatric, high school, and collegiate student-athlete populations, excluding older individuals and recreational athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine EMS activations for sport-related injuries using the National EMS Information System Database from 2017-2018. MethodsData were obtained using the National EMS Information System Database from 2017-2018. EMS activations were limited to 9-1-1 responses for individuals aged 3-99 who sustained a sports-related injury. Independent variables included patient age group: pediatric (<18 years old) vs. adult (≥18 years old). Dependent variables were patient age, gender, and chief complaint anatomic location. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for each variable. Injury proportion ratios (IPRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare chief complaint anatomic location by age group. ResultsThere were 71,322 sport-related injuries. Patients were 36.6±22.9 years and most (58.1%, n=41,132) were male. Adults had higher proportions of injuries affecting the abdomen (IPR: 2.