J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2016 Mar;59(2):149-153. 10.3340/jkns.2016.59.2.149.

Epidemiologic Impact of Rapid Industrialization on Head Injury Based on Traffic Accident Statistics in Korea

• Kim DH
• Chung YN
• Park YS
• Min KS
• Lee MS
• Kim YG

• KMID: 2192045
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2016.59.2.149

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to estimate the incidence trend of head injury and the mortality based on traffic accident statistics and to investigate the impacts of rapid industrialization and economic growth on epidemiology of head injury in Korea over the period 1970-2012 including both pre-industrialized and post-industrialized stages.
METHODS
We collected data of head injury estimated from traffic accident statistics and seven hospital based reports to see incidence trends between 1970 and 2012. We also investigated the population structure and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of Korea over the same period. The age specific data were investigated from 1992 to 2012.
RESULTS
The incidence of head injury gradually rose in the 1970s and the 1980s but stabilized until the 1990s with transient rise and then started to decline slowly in the 2000s. The mortality grew until 1991 but gradually declined ever since. However, the old age groups showed rather slight increase in both rates. The degree of decrease in the mortality has been more rapid than the incidence on head injury.
CONCLUSION
In Korea during the low income stage, rapid industrialization cause considerable increase in the mortality and the incidence of head injury. During the high income stage, the incidence of head injury gradually declined and the mortality dropped more rapidly than the incidence due to preventive measures and satisfactory medical care. Nevertheless, the old age groups revealed rather slight increase in both rates owing to the large population structure and the declining birth rate.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Head injury; Industrialization

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic*
Birth Rate
Craniocerebral Trauma*
Economic Development
Epidemiology
Head*
Humans
Incidence
Korea*
Mortality
Industrial Development

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Trends of estimated incidence on head injury per 100000 population.

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  Fig. 2 Age specific trends by the number of injured person on traffic accidents.

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  Fig. 3 Trends of the mortality on traffic accidents per 100000 population.

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  Fig. 4 Age specific trends of the number of death on traffic accidents.

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  Fig. 5 Gross National Income per capita reported by World Macroeconomic Research10).

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  Fig. 6 Four-stage population pyramids of demographic transition model in Korea referring to data produced by Statics Korea.

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