By Ernie Mundell
HealthDay reporter
FRIDAY, May 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) – The American public has good news and bad news of head injuries: the rate of these injuries has fallen sharply in children, but has hardly increased in the growing number of adult cyclists.
Between 2009 and 2018, the increasing use of helmets, building custom bike lanes in cities, and other safety measures have significantly reduced bicycle-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), particularly in children ages 10-14, a new report said.
“Overall, the emergency room rate for TBIs related to bicycles decreased by about half [48.7%] in children and by 5.5% in adults, “said a team led by Kelly Sarmiento, who works at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which is part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Overall, the reduction in bicycle-related head injuries to children over the past decade is nine times greater than that of adult cyclists.
Sarmiento and her colleagues found that more and more adults are giving up cars and using bicycles – with sometimes tragic consequences.
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“Adult bicycle-related deaths have increased in recent years,” they wrote. “In 2018, 857 adult cyclists died in traffic-related accidents in the United States, the highest number in two decades.”
The new report collected US data on nearly 600,000 emergency room visits for bike-related TBIs between 2009 and 2018.
The Sarmiento team emphasized that “most of the patients had TBI [83%] were treated and discharged from the emergency room. ”
“Although many of these individuals have made well, some have persistent symptoms with emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and academic ramifications,” the researchers added.
Gender also seemed to play a role.
“During the study period, the rate of emergency room visits for bike-related TBIs was three times higher in men of all ages than in women,” the CDC researchers wrote. Boys and men also died more often from bicycle accidents than girls and women, according to the study.
The researchers believe there is a need for more cycling safety education, specifically aimed at men.
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Two paramedics, unconnected to the new report, agreed that more needs to be done.
“While the study shows that bicycle-related TBIs have decreased much more in children compared to adults, we shouldn’t be complacent and abandon our efforts to address this important public health problem,” said Dr. Robert Glatter, who practices at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
“The fact is that cycling results in the highest number of emergency visits for traumatic brain injury in the US,” he said.
The threat to adults is particularly great.
“With an increasing number of adults commuting to work in both urban and rural areas, and increasing congestion on bike lanes, the potential for not only TBIs but also multi-system trauma is a reality,” Glatter said. There is “the potential for serious and life-threatening chest and abdominal injuries, including long bone, pelvic and rib fractures,” he added.
Dr. Teresa Murray Amato directs emergency medicine at Long Forest Jewish Forest Hills Hospital, also in New York City.
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She said the welcome decline in TBIs in children may be “the result of a massive educational push from pediatricians to ensure parents understand the need to use helmets while children ride bikes.”
“While cycling is a fun and effective way to exercise, there are some safety issues that need to be pursued,” said Amato.
Glatter said there is also a new threat to consider.
“The e-bike explosion in recent years continues to increase the severity of injuries, primarily due to higher speeds,” he said. “E-bikes are usually heavier than standard bicycles, which can cause more serious injuries in falls and collisions due to their weight alone.”
The new study was published on May 13 in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
More information
For more information about bicycle safety, contact the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration.
SOURCES: Dr. Teresa Murray Amato, chairperson, Emergency Medicine, Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, New York City; Robert Glatter, MD, emergency physician, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Weekly report on morbidity and mortality, May 13, 2021
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