Affiliations: [a] University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ifsttar, UMR T_9405, F-69373, Lyon, France | [b] University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ifsttar, UMR T_9405, F-69500, Bron, France | [c] University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ifsttar, Université Jean Monnet, UMR T_9405, F-42100 St Etienne, France
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Emmanuel Fort, Transport Work and Environmental Epidemiology Research and Surveillance Unit – UMRESTTE (UMR T9405) IFSTTAR, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69373 Lyon cedex 08, France. Tel.: +33478772860; E-mail: emmanuel.fort@univ-lyon1.fr.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Road accidents may impact victims’ physical and/or mental health and socio-occupational life, notably including return to work. OBJECTIVES:To assess whether the occupational medical consequences sustained by subjects injured in road accidents occurring in a work-related context differ from those associated with private accidents. METHODS:778 adults who were in work or occupational training at the time of their accident were included. Two groups were distinguished: 354 (45.5%) injured in road accidents occurring in a work-related context (commuting or on duty) and 424 (54.5%) injured in a private accident. The groups were compared on medical and occupational factors assessed on prospective follow-up at 6 months and 1 and 3 years. Multivariate analysis explored for factors associated at 6 months and 1 year with sick leave following the accident and duration of sick leave. RESULTS:There were no significant differences between groups for demographic data apart from a slightly higher injury severity in private accidents (32.5% of private accidents with MAIS3+(Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale greater or equal to 3) vs. 23.7% for work-related accidents, p = 0.007). Victims of work-related accidents were more often on sick leave (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.9). Although the length of sick leave is higher for work-related accidents that for private accidents, multivariate analysis showed that the injury severity and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significant factors to explain the time to return to work. There were no significant differences according to occupational impact during follow-up, notably including sick-leave duration, number of victims returning to work within 3 years and number of victims out of work due to incapacity. CONCLUSIONS:In the ESPARR (follow-up study of a road-accident population in the Rhône administrative county: Etude de Suivi d’une Population d’Accidentés de la Route dans le Rhône) cohort, the fact that a road accident occurred in a work-related context did not affect the occupational consequences.
