Familial Aggregation in Injuries

Abstract

Background: Studies on familial aggregation are mainly to separate the role of genetics from environmental factors in the emergence of a trait. Studies on familial aggregation of injuries are very limited. This study aimed to determine the familial pattern of injuries in patients referred to Shohada 17 Shahrivar and Modares Hospital Complex in Saveh. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to examine familial aggregation in injuries. All patients referred to the emergency department of Shohada 17 Shahrivar and Modares Hospital Complex from September 2019 to October 2020 who were treated due to one of the types of injuries were selected as the case group. All those who were admitted in the same period in the internal medicine wards of the hospital (including men and women) were selected as a control group. STAT software was used to analyze the data. Mean and frequency (percentage) were used to describe the data. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds ratio of factors affecting the incidence of injury and to determine familial aggregation. Results: The odds ratio for the aggregation of injury between family members was 1/79 (1/4-2/29) (P-value <0/001) which increased to 2/27 (1/67-3/09) (P-value <0/001) after adjustment for influencing factors. In case of injury to a parent in the past year, the odds ratio of injury compared to people who do not have a history of injury to parents was 2/84 (1/52-5/3) (P-value = 0/001). Conclusion: The study showed that the injuries aggregated in families significantly and this aggregation remains serious after controlling the effects of influencing factors. The programs for prevention and control of injuries in the community might be more successful if they were designed in a family-based rather than an individual-based approach.