This year, the State Trauma Advisory Board celebrates 30 years of oversight, expansion, and quality improvement within the Arizona trauma system. Each year, the State Trauma Advisory Board collaborates with the ADHS Bureau of EMS and Trauma System to publish an annual report and interactive online Trauma Dashboard that provides a comprehensive picture of the burden of injury and trauma mortality among Arizona’s residents and visitors. The report and dashboard reveal information critical for mitigating the increasing trauma burden in our state, including opportunities for injury prevention. 

In 2023, 47 trauma centers reported a total of 71,015 trauma incidents to the Arizona State Trauma Registry. This represents a 4% increase from 2022 and an average of 195 trauma incidents reported per day. A total of 6,568 (9.25%) incidents were among pediatric patients ages 0-17 years and 31,334 (44.14%) incidents were among patients older than 65 years old. A total of 1,750 (2.5% of all incidents) resulted in death. Of the 1,750 deaths reported, 101 deaths were among pediatric patients ages 0-17 years old (up from 78 pediatric deaths reported in 2022) and 757 deaths were among patients greater than 65 years old.

Falls were the top mechanism of injury and top cause of death for all age groups in 2023. Falls made up 52.1% of the reported trauma incidents, followed by MVT-Occupant (18.0% of all injuries in 2023). Struck By/Against, which includes injuries resulting from being struck by items like sporting equipment or falling objects, walking or skating into an object like a wall or lamppost, and assault by bodily force, formed the third most common mechanism of injury (5.3% of all injuries in 2023). 

Among children ages 0 to 17, falls were the top mechanism of injury, but firearm injuries were the top cause of death. In 2023, 34 pediatric patients died from firearm-related trauma, or one-third of the total of 101 pediatric trauma deaths. Thirty-one  out of 101 (30.1%) pediatric deaths were motor vehicle related trauma incidents, and seven deaths were a result of child abuse. 

For adults older than 65 years of age, falls were the top mechanism of both injury and death, with 26,470 fall injuries (84.5% of the total injuries for this age group) and 524 deaths. Adults over 65 had the highest trauma rate of any age group. The rate of trauma incidents continues to be highest among the American Indian or Alaska Native population for all age groups at 1,380 incidents per 100,000 people. This year’s report also shows a steady increase in the trauma rate among the Asian/Pacific Islander population, increasing from 251 to 299 trauma incidents per 100,000 population.

Opportunities for Injury Prevention

The State Trauma Advisory Board report and trauma dashboard illustrate opportunities for injury prevention and how risk factors and protective measures can increase or reduce the impact of traumatic injury. 

Falls Prevention 

Falls continue to be the top mechanism of injury in Arizona for all age groups year after year. Over the past year, the State Trauma Advisory Board collaborated with the BEMSTS Education Committee to publish a Training for EMCTs for Patient Fall Prevention and expanded Falls Incidents dashboard. 

Passenger Restraints 

The use of passenger restraints is a significant protective factor proven to increase survival. In 2023, nearly 30% of motor vehicle occupants who visited a trauma center were not using a passenger restraint. Passengers who were not wearing passenger restraints were over three times as likely to die in a motor vehicle accident compared to passengers who were wearing passenger restraints. 

Helmet Use 

Less than half of motorcyclists involved in MVT-Motorcyclist accidents wore helmets, and motorcyclists were more likely to die if they were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident (6.9% compared to 4.8%). Only 63.91% of pedal cyclists and 68.59% of off-road vehicle occupants who were injured wore helmets.

Drugs and Alcohol 

Nearly a quarter (24.39%) of trauma patients were suspected or confirmed of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their trauma incident. This percentage is higher among the age groups of 25-34 and 35-44, in which over 44% of trauma patients were suspected or confirmed of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

As we look forward, the State Trauma Advisory Board and Bureau of EMS and Trauma System will continue to support the Arizona trauma system to ensure that Arizona residents and visitors have access to high quality trauma care when they need it. Continuing to focus on simple yet effective injury prevention efforts such as falls prevention, firearm safety, and passenger helmet and seatbelt use will help to prevent traumatic injuries and ultimately save the lives of Arizonans.