by Electric bicycle (e-bicycle) related injuries, particularly head injuries, have seen a significant increase in the United States since 2017, as per a research letter published online in JAMA Surgery on February 21.
The study conducted by Adrian M. Fernandez, M.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, along with colleagues, analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to determine the number of patients with injuries from e-bicycles presenting at U.S. emergency departments between 2017 and 2022.
During the study period, the researchers identified 45,586 e-bicycle-related injuries across the United States, resulting in an estimated 5,462 hospitalizations. Over the span of five years, there was a notable 30-fold increase in e-bicycle injuries (over 99 percent annually) and a significant 43-fold rise in hospitalizations (more than 108 percent annually). The study observed a rise in injuries among children (accounting for 0 to 13 percent of total injuries) and a decrease in injuries among young adults aged 18 to 34 years (from 63 to 30 percent of total injuries). The incidence of head trauma from e-bicycle accidents was around 49 times higher in 2022 compared to 2017, with a growth rate surpassing that of overall e-bicycle injuries. The study also found a 5.6 percent yearly decrease in helmet use, with less than half (44 percent) of injured e-bicyclists wearing helmets. E-bicyclists without helmets had 1.9 times higher odds of head injuries compared to those wearing helmets.
The researchers highlight the need for further examination as the increasing proportion of head injuries in the study indicates that traumatic brain injuries tend to be more severe in e-bicyclists as opposed to traditional bicyclists.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research.
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
