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The American Journal of Emergency... Aug 2021Identification of predictors of outcome at the scene of drowning events could guide prevention, care and resource utilization. This review aimed to describe where, what... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Identification of predictors of outcome at the scene of drowning events could guide prevention, care and resource utilization. This review aimed to describe where, what and how scene predictive factors have been evaluated in drowning outcome studies.
METHODS
We reviewed studies reporting scene drowning predictors published between 2003 and 2019. Data extraction included study populations, data sources, predictor factors (victim, incident, rescue, resuscitation and hospital-related), outcome measures and type of analyses.
RESULTS
Of 49 studies, 87.6% were from high-income countries, 57.1% used data from only one source (92.9% of these from either hospital or EMS), 73.5% included cases who received medical care and 53.1% defined outcomes as survival or death. A total of 78 different factors were studied; the most commonly studied group of factors described victim demographics, included in 42 studies (85.7%), followed by resuscitation factors, included in 30 studies (61.2%). Few studies described rescue (6.1%). The most frequent statistically significant single predictors of outcome known at the scene were submersion duration (evaluated in 19, predictor in 14) and age (evaluated in 31, predictor in 16). Only 38.7% of studies employed multivariable methods.
CONCLUSIONS
Gaps to be addressed in drowning outcomes research include data from low- and middle-income countries, standardized definition of factors to allow evaluation across studies, inclusive study populations that can be generalized beyond those receiving medical care, study rescue and resuscitation factors, use of more meaningful outcomes (survival with good neurologic status) and advanced analyses to identify which factors are true predictors versus confounding variables.
Topics: Age Factors; Drowning; Humans; Near Drowning; Prognosis; Resuscitation; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis; Time Factors
PubMed: 33069542
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.10.011 -
The American Journal of Emergency... Jun 2019Drowning is one of the major causes of traumatic death. The impact of drowning in the elderly and patients who were not elderly will be different because of... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
PURPOSE
Drowning is one of the major causes of traumatic death. The impact of drowning in the elderly and patients who were not elderly will be different because of physiological differences. We wanted to analyze the clinical differences such as mortality, incidence rate of complications, degree of hypothermia and rate of cardiac arrest between elderly and adult drowning patients.
METHODS
This study included drowning patients over 18 years old who came to an emergency department (ED) located on a riverside from September 1997 to July 2016. Patients over the age of 65 years were classified as elderly, while those under the age of 65 years were classified as adults. Demographic data and clinical outcomes were surveyed.
RESULTS
A total of 611 patients were included in this study. Sixty-one patients (9.9%) were elderly, and 550 patients (90.1%) were adults. There were 17 elderly patients (15.8%) and 87 adult patients (27.9%) who had cardiac arrest at the time of ED arrival (p = 0.017). The rate of body temperatures < 34 °C was higher in elderly patients than that in adult patients (27.9% vs 17.5%, respectively, p = 0.025). The rates of hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality were higher in elderly group (23% vs. 15.1%, respectively, p = 0.01; 37.7% vs 21.8%, respectively, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in suicidal intent between the elderly and adult patient groups (82.0% vs 78.9%, respectively, p = 0.421).
CONCLUSIONS
Elderly drowning patients accounted for approximately 1/10 of all drowning cases and were more likely to experience a cardiac arrest, hypothermia, mortality, and ICU admission.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Comorbidity; Drowning; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 30190239
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.08.066 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2021Drowning is a significant public health issue, with females accounting for one third of global drowning deaths. The rate of female drowning has not decreased within... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Drowning is a significant public health issue, with females accounting for one third of global drowning deaths. The rate of female drowning has not decreased within high-income countries and presentations to hospital have increased. This scoping review aimed to explore adult female unintentional drowning, including risk factors, clinical treatment and outcomes of females hospitalised for drowning.
METHODS
A systematic search of the literature following the PRISMA-ScR framework was undertaken. The databases OVID MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, OVID Emcare, Web of Science, Informit and Scopus were accessed. Study locations of focus were Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Studies from January 2003 to April 2019 were included. The quality of evidence of included studies was assessed using GRADE guidelines.
RESULTS
The final search results included 14 studies from Australia (n = 4), Canada (n = 1), New Zealand (n = 1), United States (n = 6), United Kingdom (n = 1), and one study reporting data from both Australia and United States. Nine studies reported risk factors for female drowning including age, with the proportion of female drowning incidence increasing with age. Although females are now engaging in risk-taking behaviours associated with drowning that are similar to males, such as consuming alcohol and swimming in unsafe locations, their exposure to risky situations and ways they assess risk, differ. Females are more likely to drown from accidental entry into water, such as in a vehicle during a flood or fall into water. This review found no evidence on the clinical treatment provided to females in hospital after a drowning incident, and only a small number of studies reported the clinical outcomes of females, with inconsistent results (some studies reported better and some no difference in clinical outcomes among females).
CONCLUSION
Adult females are a group vulnerable to drowning, that have lacked attention. There was no single study found which focused solely on female drowning. There is a need for further research to explore female risk factors, the clinical treatment and outcomes of females hospitalised for drowning. This will not only save the lives of females, but also contribute to an overall reduction in drowning.
Topics: Adult; Australia; Canada; Developed Countries; Drowning; Female; Humans; Male; New Zealand; United Kingdom
PubMed: 34090385
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10920-8 -
CJEM Apr 2022
Topics: Drowning; Humans; Resuscitation; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 35129831
DOI: 10.1007/s43678-022-00271-7 -
The Lancet. Global Health Jul 2022Drowning has been a neglected health issue, largely absent from the global health and development discourse, until the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution... (Review)
Review
Drowning has been a neglected health issue, largely absent from the global health and development discourse, until the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on global drowning prevention in 2021. This policy analysis examines the role of issue characteristics, actor power, ideas, and political contexts in the emergence of drowning prevention, and it also identifies opportunities for future actions. We identified three factors crucial to enhancing prioritisation: (1) methodological advancements in population-representative data and evidence for effective interventions; (2) reframing drowning prevention in health and sustainable development terms with an elevated focus on high burdens in low-income and middle-income contexts; and (3) political advocacy by a small coalition. Ensuring that the UN resolution on global drowning prevention is a catalyst for action requires positioning of drowning prevention within global health and sustainable development agendas; strengthening of capacity for multisectoral action; expansion of research measuring burden and identifying solutions in diverse contexts; and incorporation of inclusive global governance, commitments, and mechanisms that hold stakeholders to account.
Topics: Drowning; Global Health; Health Policy; Humans; Policy Making; Sustainable Development
PubMed: 35461520
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00074-2 -
Resuscitation May 2021Drowning is a global health problem and deeper knowledge about the extent and causes is of utmost importance for implementing preventative actions. The aim of this study...
AIM
Drowning is a global health problem and deeper knowledge about the extent and causes is of utmost importance for implementing preventative actions. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and characteristics of drowning in Sweden over time, including both non-fatal and fatal cases.
METHODS
All cases identified as drowning (ICD-10 coding) at a national level in Sweden between 2003-2017 were collected. Three sources of data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare were extracted via the Cause of Death Register and the National Patient Register.
RESULTS
Over 15 years, a total of 6609 cases occurred, resulting in an annual incidence of 4.66 per 100 000. The median age was 49 years (IQR 23-67) and 67% were males. Non-fatal drownings represented 51% (n = 3363), with an overall non-fatal to fatal ratio of 1:1, this being 8:1 for children (0-17 years of age). Non-fatal cases were more often female (36% vs. 30%; p < 0.001), younger 30 (IQR 10-56) vs. 60 (IQR: 45-72) (p < 0.001) and of unintentional nature (81% vs. 55%; p < 0.001). The overall incidence decreased over time from 5.6 to 4.1 per 100 000 (p < 0.001). The highest rate of 30-day survival was found in females 0-17 years (94%, 95% CI 91.1-95.5) and the lowest in males >66 years (28.7%, 95% CI 26.2-31.2). Although the incidence in children 0-4 years increased from 7.4 to 8.1 per 100 000 (p < 0.001), they demonstrated the highest non-fatal to fatal ratio (13:1).
CONCLUSION
Drowning is declining but remains a consistent and underestimated public-health problem. Non-fatal drowning cases represent about half of the burden and characteristics differ from fatal drowning cases, being younger, more often female and of unintentional nature.
Topics: Child; Drowning; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sweden
PubMed: 33549688
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.01.028 -
BMJ Paediatrics Open Jun 2022Drowning is one of the major public health concerns, and children are the most vulnerable victims of drowning death in Bangladesh, which has been a paramount threat to...
Drowning is one of the major public health concerns, and children are the most vulnerable victims of drowning death in Bangladesh, which has been a paramount threat to child survival. Based on available data, we intend to underline the prevalence and associated risk factors for child drowning deaths in Bangladesh. According to the Center for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh, about 19 000 people of all ages drown per year across the country, where approximately 77% are children (<18 years), which means that over 40 Bangladeshi children drown per day. A recent survey reported that as of data collected from January 2020 to June 2021, 83% of drowning victims were children. Insufficient parental supervision, mother's illiteracy, lack of swimming ability, male gender, children under 5 years, geographical and environmental conditions, seasonality, and disasters significantly contribute to child drowning deaths in Bangladesh. We urge the governments and local administrations to address the current crisis by coordinating and integrating several effective efforts to prevent child drowning deaths.
Topics: Bangladesh; Child; Child, Preschool; Drowning; Family; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36053622
DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001464 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022The purpose of this research was to develop an algorithm for a wearable device that would prevent people from drowning in swimming pools. The device should detect...
The purpose of this research was to develop an algorithm for a wearable device that would prevent people from drowning in swimming pools. The device should detect pre-drowning symptoms and alert the rescue staff. The proposed detection method is based on analyzing real-time data collected from a set of sensors, including a pulse oximeter. The pulse oximetry technique is used for measuring the heart rate and oxygen saturation in the subject's blood. It is an optical method; subsequently, the measurements obtained this way are highly sensitive to interference from the subject's motion. To eliminate noise caused by the subject's movement, accelerometer data were used in the system. If the acceleration sensor does not detect movement, a biosensor is activated, and an analysis of selected physiological parameters is performed. Such a setup of the algorithm allows the device to distinguish situations in which the person rests and does not move from situations in which the examined person has lost consciousness and has begun to drown.
Topics: Drowning; Humans; Oximetry; Oxygen; Swimming Pools; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 35632232
DOI: 10.3390/s22103823 -
Injury Prevention : Journal of the... Jun 2016Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death. Rivers are a common location for drowning. Unlike other location-specific prevention efforts (home swimming pools and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death. Rivers are a common location for drowning. Unlike other location-specific prevention efforts (home swimming pools and beaches), little is known about prevention targeting river drowning deaths.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was undertaken using English language papers published between 1980 and 2014, exploring gaps in the literature, with a focus on epidemiology, risk factors and prevention strategies for river drowning.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine papers were deemed relevant to the study design including 21 (72.4%) on epidemiology, 18 (62.1%) on risk factors and 10 (34.5%) that proposed strategies for prevention. Risk factors identified included age, falls into water, swimming, using watercraft, sex and alcohol.
DISCUSSION
Gaps were identified in the published literature. These included a lack of an agreed definition for rivers, rates for fatal river drowning (however, crude rates were calculated for 12 papers, ranging from 0.20 to 1.89 per 100 000 people per annum), and consensus around risk factors, especially age. There was only one paper that explored a prevention programme; the remaining nine outlined proposed prevention activities. There is a need for studies into exposure patterns for rivers and an agreed definition (with consistent coding).
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review has identified that river drowning deaths are an issue in many regions and countries around the world. Further work to address gaps in the published research to date would benefit prevention efforts.
Topics: Accident Prevention; Accidents; Drowning; Environment Design; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; International Classification of Diseases; Preventive Health Services; Risk Factors; Rivers; Swimming
PubMed: 26728005
DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2015-041750 -
Injury Prevention : Journal of the... Apr 2022Drowning is a leading cause of death in children ≤5 years old. Detailed data on the epidemiology of drowning in this high-risk population can inform preventative...
BACKGROUND
Drowning is a leading cause of death in children ≤5 years old. Detailed data on the epidemiology of drowning in this high-risk population can inform preventative efforts. We aimed to study trends in incidence and case fatality rates (CFR) in the USA among young children hospitalised after drowning.
METHODS
Children ≤5 years old hospitalised in the USA after drowning were identified from the Kids Inpatient Database 2000-2016. Incidence and CFRs by calendar year, age, sex, race/ethnicity and hospital region were calculated. Trends over time were evaluated. Factors associated with fatal drowning were assessed.
RESULTS
Among 30 560 804 hospitalised children ≤5 years old, 9261 drowning cases were included. Patients were more commonly male (62.3%) and white (47.4%). Two years old had the highest incidence of hospitalisation after drowning, regardless of race/ethnicity, sex and region. Overall drowning hospitalisations decreased by 49% from 2000 to 2016 (8.38-4.25 cases per 100 000 children). The mortality rate was 11.4% (n=1060), and most occurred in children ≤3 years old (83.0%). Overall case fatality decreased between 2000 and 2016 (risk ratio (RR) 0.44, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.56). The lowest reduction in incidence and case fatality was observed among Black children (Incidence RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.13; case fatality RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.58).
CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalisations and CFRs for drowning among children ≤5 years old have decreased from 2000 to 2016. Two years old are at the highest risk of both fatal and non-fatal drowning. Disparities exist for Black children in both the relative reduction in drowning hospitalisation incidence and case fatality. Interventions should focus on providing equitable preventative care measures to this population.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Drowning; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Male; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 34462333
DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044257