A Demographic Profile of Disability Assessed Patients in Selected Tertiary Care Hospitals in Coastal Karnataka, India: A Retrospective Study

Background Disability assessment is a critical component in getting a comprehensive and amicable compensation in medico-legal cases. The data regarding acquired disability among the hospital-admitted patients are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic profile of disability-assessed patients in tertiary care hospitals in Coastal Karnataka, India between 2010 and 2019. The study also aims to evaluate the pitfalls in the present assessment method. Materials and Methods A record-based retrospective study of all the cases assessed by the investigator in tertiary care hospitals in Coastal Karnataka between 2010 and 2019 was analyzed. The disability was assessed using Govt. of India guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 2004 cases were analyzed; among them, 85% were males. The average percentage of disability was 26% (SD = 16.2). Mean age of the patients was 38 years, the median calculated for duration of hospital stay was 15 days, and 15% patients had multiple disabilities. The Brachial plexus injury resulted in the highest percentage of disability (76%) followed by spine (43%) and head injury (38%). Locomotor disability was found in 77% of cases, and lower limbs and right side were involved twice more than the upper limbs and left side. Conclusion The study reveals the demographic profile of disability-assessed patients admitted in hospitals. This database will help to create awareness among health care professionals, Govt. bodies, and insurance companies about the magnitude of the problem.