Objective - To assess the Incidence of whiplash associated disorders (WAD)
after minor whiplash injuries in car accidents.
Design - A cohort defined by means of a health-care-based registration of t
raffic injuries and followed up by postal questionnaire after 12 months.
Setting - Primary and hospital care in a Swedish middle-sized town (approx.
80000 inhabitants) during 2 years in the period 1993-1995.
Main outcome measures - Incidence of WAD, duration of symptoms and sick lea
ve.
Results - A total of 485 injured car occupants were identified; 158 had a W
AD with no difference between the sexes. The Incidence was estimated to be
1/1000 inhabitants and year. The response rate to the questionnaire was 79%
(125/158). In 64 cases, symptoms lasted 6 weeks and in 30 cases more than
6 months. Forty individuals (32%) reported sick leave exceeding 4 weeks in
15 cases. Seven persons (5.6%) were still on sick leave at follow-up. The d
uration of symp toms and sick leave wets similar for men and women.
Conclusion - Relatively few cases of WAD reported long-term sick leave. Mor
e cases reported chronic symptoms.