SCIENCE / MEDICINE : Health Problems Hike Injury Risk

A study of accident victims in California found that those with preexisting medical problems are at a much greater risk of dying from even moderate injuries, researchers said last week.

Patients with one or more previous medical conditions, including blood clotting, heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes, had a 30% higher mortality rate than those without any illnesses.

People with two or more preexisting medical problems were 60% more likely to die from injuries sustained in the accident.

Researchers from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine compiled data on 3,074 trauma deaths and on three times as many accident survivors for the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

The school’s researcher, John Morris, said accident victims with previous health problems should be carefully monitored even if their injuries are not severe.