7.3.3. Morbidity

Hospital admissions due to accidents and injuries in the EU27 sum up to almost 7 million, more than 19,000 people each day and nearly nine percent of all hospital admissions in the EU, causing billions of healthcare costs (Figure 7.5).

Figure 7.5. Hospital discharges due to injuries, EU27, 2003-2005

On average about 1 500 hospital discharges due to injuries per 100 000 inhabitants in the EU27 are reported per year. A wide range of discharges exists between Member States, from 540 in Malta to 2 858 in Austria, which reflects differences in national hospital admission policies and healthcare systems. The average hospital stay after an injury is approximately 8 days, adding up to an estimated total of € 1.5 billion alone for hospital inpatients treated for injuries (Table 7.3).

Table 7.3. Hospital discharge due to injuries, EU27: Minimum and maximum values per country

Accident and injuries are extraordinarily detrimental to Community productivity. Little data is available on the causes of sick leave and disability due to injuries yet, both are important factors in reduced productivity. National data indicate that up to 8% of retirements on the grounds of disability and 20% of sick leave days are the result of injuries (Bauer et al, 2007).