To understand socio-economic losses of inpatients and deaths caused by injuries in 2000 in Ningxia and to estimate their extent of harmfulness.
Eight of 35 local hospitals totaling 5 876 inpatients were recruited with two-stage sampling in Ningxia in 2000. All medical cost incurred during their hospitalizations for injuries, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory disease, cancer and communicable diseases, losses in labor time were analyzed, and years of potential life lost (YPLL), working years of potential lost (WYPLL), valued years of potential life lost (VYPLL) due to these diseases were estimated for the residents in Ningxia with corrected human capital method.
The study showed that indirect economic losses due to hospitalization for injuries accounted for 24 million yuan, higher than those for other diseases. YPLL, WYPLL and VYPLL due to injuries were also higher than those in other diseases.
Injury has caused serious threat to their health of the residents in Ningxia and brought heavy burden for the society and economy. It has become an important public health problem and its prevention and control should be strengthened as soon as possible.