Epidemiology of sports injuries in Iraq: Incidence, risk groups, and health implications

The first nationally representative data on sport injuries in Iraq are presented here and compared to epidemiological trends found in Germany. We estimate the annual sports injury incidence, classify types of injuries and those resulting in occupational disabilities, and identify high risk demographics, based on a cross-sectional survey of urban and rural Iraqi adults. Results show that 3.4% of adults and 5.9% of physically active people were injured in sports last year. Highest risk group is males 18-29, in particular those involved with football and martial arts. The most common cause of injuries is dislocations and ligament injuries (58%), followed by fractures (21%) and superficial wounds (14%). Targeted injury programs and sports safety education are recommendation areas. The foundation data of this study provide the baseline for public health policy and design of preventive interventions in Iraq.