Medical Costs and Economic Burden Caused by Road Traffic Injuries in Iran

Behnood, Hamid Reza; Haddadi, Mashyaneh; Sirous, Shadrokh; Ainy, Elaheh; Rezaei, Reza · 2016 · Crossref

DOI: 10.5812/traumamon.35997

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Summary

This study estimates the medical costs and economic burden of road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Iran for the year 2011. Motivated by the significant social and economic impact of RTIs globally and the need for accurate data to inform health policy and resource allocation, the authors aimed to quantify the financial losses imposed on society, victims, and the state. The study focuses specifically on casualty-related costs, excluding vehicle damage, lost time in accidents, and administrative costs for insurance and police services. The researchers employed a human capital (HC) approach, incorporating medical costs, lost output, and indirect costs. Data were sourced from the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, covering over 320,000 traffic casualties. Medical costs were categorized into prehospital, hospital treatment, posthospital, and nonhospital expenses. Injury severity was classified using the six-level Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) to estimate costs per injury group. Lost output was calculated based on years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD), utilizing disability-adjusted life years (DALY) indices. Indirect costs included pain, grief, and suffering (PGS), estimated using recommended proportions for fatal, serious, and slight crashes, as well as lowered functional capacity derived from the Functional Capacity Index. The total economic burden of RTIs in Iran in 2011 was estimated at 111,342 billion Iranian rials (approximately $4.5 billion USD), representing 2.18% of Iran’s total GDP. This amount equaled 75% of the total funds allocated to Iran’s health sector that year. Medical costs accounted for 43.92% of the total burden, with posthospital costs being the largest component (26.47%). Lost output constituted 29.23%, and indirect costs, primarily pain, grief, and suffering, made up 26.85%. The average cost per fatality was 1,688 million IRR ($67,500), while the cost per physical disability was 1,063 million IRR ($42,500). Medical costs varied significantly by injury severity, ranging from $10 for nonhospital treatment to $51,194 for fatal injuries (AIS level 6). The findings highlight that RTIs impose a substantial economic burden on Iran, comparable to other low- and middle-income countries where RTI costs often exceed 1% of GDP. The study concludes that these costs should be a significant concern for health policymakers and medical planners. By providing a detailed breakdown of costs, the research supports the need for efficient resource allocation and cost-efficiency analysis in road safety measures. The authors emphasize that understanding these economic impacts is crucial for macroeconomic decision-making and improving road safety strategies in Iran.

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes