Article

OBJECTIVE: To analyse factors associated with late return to work in road
accident victims. Materials and methods: The ESPARR cohort comprises road
accident victims monitored over time from initiation of hospital care. A total of
608 ESPARR cohort subjects were working at the time of their accident and
answered questionnaires at 6 months and/or 1 year. For each level of overall
severity of injury (Maximum - Abbreviated Injury Scale (M-AIS) 1, 2, 3 and 4-5),
a time-off-work threshold was defined, beyond which the subject was deemed to be
a late returner; 179 subjects were considered to be late in returning to work,
while 402 showed a normal pattern of return. Logistic regression identified
factors associated with late return. RESULTS: Type of journey, overall injury
severity and intention to press charges emerged as factors predictive of late
return to work on the basis of the data collected at inclusion alone. After
adjustment, pain (odds ratio (OR): 2.6; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0-6.7)
and physical sequelae (OR: 3.8; 95% CI 1.7-8.3) at 6 months and the fact of
pressing charges (OR: 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.5) remained significantly linked with
late return to work. CONCLUSION: Impaired health status at 6 months after the
initial accident (in the form of persistent pain and physical sequelae) is a
determining factor delaying return to work following a road traffic accident.

Langue : ANGLAIS