Bicycle helmet efficacy was quantified using a formal meta-analytic approac
h based on peer-reviewed studies. Only those studies with individual injury
and helmet use data were included. Based on studies from several countries
published in the period 1987-1998, the summary odds ratio estimate for eff
icacy is 0.40 (95% confidence interval 0.29, 0.55) for head injury, 0.42 (0
.26, 0.67) for brain injury, 0.53 (0.39, 0.73) for facial injury and 0.27 (
0.10, 0.71) for fatal injury. This indicates a statistically significant pr
otective effect of helmets. Three studies provided neck injury results that
were unfavourable to helmets with a summary estimate of 1.36 (1.00, 1.86),
but this result may not be applicable to the lighter helmets currently in
use. In conclusion, the evidence is clear that bicycle helmets prevent seri
ous injury and even death. Despite this, the use of helmets is sub-optimal.
Helmet use for all riders should be further encouraged to the extent that
it is uniformly accepted and analogous to the use of seat belts by motor ve
hicle occupants. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.