550 Assessment of road injuries and fatalities in Delhi trauma hospitals and police crash records

<h3>Background</h3> In Delhi, road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a leading cause of premature death. The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has collaborated with the Government of Delhi and Vital Strategies to implement interventions to reduce RTI-related fatalities. Reliable surveillance data is essential for planning and evaluation, but the potential under-reporting of RTI cases in India is a concern. <h3>Objective</h3> We aim to improve understanding of RTIs in Delhi by collecting and linking data from trauma centres and police records. The study describes socio-demographic and road user characteristics of victims, their injuries, outcomes and reporting, and assesses the feasibility of integrating multiple data sources for surveillance. <h3>Methods</h3> This descriptive cross-sectional study addresses retrospectively collected hospital and police records. Case records will be linked and the capture-recapture estimation method will be applied to estimate potential underreporting. Records from patients presenting with RTI from July 1 to Dec 31, 2022 at six trauma centres in Delhi are being collected. We present results for two large trauma centres for the month of July. <h3>Results</h3> Among 175 RTI cases admitted to the two hospitals over a one-month period, 74% were from crashes occurring in Delhi. Among these, 87% were males aged 21 to 35 years. The road user type was known for only 30% and the mode of arrival for 60% of cases. Among cases where the mode of arrival was known, only 22% used an ambulance. The neurosurgery and orthopaedic departments managed 92% of cases, 50% of cases involved head injuries, and 5% of admissions resulted in death. Only 25% of cases could be matched to police records. Among matched cases, 44% of victims were pedestrians and 25% were motorcyclists. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Road safety interventions require reliable data on burden and risk distribution. This study aims to improve RTI surveillance by integrating multiple data sources, providing a foundation for evidence-based interventions and policy changes. The findings will inform stakeholders in Delhi and beyond, helping them to develop effective road injury prevention strategies.