The relationship between socioeconomic status and trauma outcomes

Abstract

Background: The burden of trauma is not equally distributed among all groups of societies and often disproportionately affects poor populations. This study aimed to examine the relationship of socioeconomic status (SES) and trauma outcomes. Methods: In this cohort study, 600 trauma patients in Kashan, Iran were studied. Data were gathered by demographic and trauma-related questionnaires, a socioeconomic assessment scale, the Hospital Care Index and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-II. The concentration index was done for measuring socioeconomic inequalities. Results: About 49.7% of the patients received high level of hospital care. After 3 months from trauma incidence, 64.2% of the patients reported some levels of disability and 71.4% returned to their work or activities of daily living. Most cases of high level of hospital care and return to work (RTW) were among patients with high SES while most instances of death and disability occurred among patients with low SES. Inequality analysis also revealed that patients with low and high SES differed significantly from each other in terms of hospital care and RTW. Conclusion: Patients with low SES are at greater risk for receiving low level of hospital care and experiencing non-RTW and needs to stronger post-discharge social supports.