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. 2006 Mar;23(3):195–201. doi: 10.1136/emj.2005.027102

Table 2 Predictors of persistent neck pain—mechanical (collision) factors.

Persistent neck pain* n (%) Relative risk† (95%CI)
No Yes
Own vehicle
 Car 344 (74.1) 120 (25.9) 1.0
 Other 7 (46.7) 8 (53.3) 2.0 (1.2 to 3.3)
Severity of collision (VAS) (tertiles)
 Low 134 (80.7) 32 (19.3) 1.0
 Medium 105 (70.0) 45 (30.0) 1.6 (1.1 to 2.3)
 High 110 (69.6) 48 (30.4) 1.6 (1.1 to 2.3)
Speed of own vehicle
 Stationary 198 (75.0) 66 (25.0) 1.0
 ⩽25 mph 94 (74.6) 32 (25.4) 1.0 (0.7 to 1.4)
 >25 mph 57 (67.1) 28 (32.9) 1.4 (0.9 to 2.0)
Speed of other vehicle
 Stationary 29 (78.4) 8 (21.6) 1.0
 ⩽25 mph 136 (72.7) 51 (27.3) 1.2 (0.6 to 2.3)
 >25 mph 138 (73.4) 50 (26.6) 1.2 (0.6 to 2.2)
Direction of collision
 Rear 192 (74.7) 65 (25.3) 1.0
 Front 59 (76.6) 18 (23.4) 0.9 (0.6 to 1.5)
 Rear shunt 24 (72.7) 9 (27.3) 1.2 (0.6 to 2.1)
 Side 64 (65.3) 34 (34.7) 1.4 (0.96 to 1.9)
 Other 13 (86.7) 2 (13.3) 0.6 (0.2 to 2.0)
Awareness of impending collision
 Yes 100 (75.2) 33 (24.8) 1.0
 No 250 (72.7) 94 (27.3) 1.1 (0.8 to 1.5)
Position in vehicle
 Driver 275 (74.5) 94 (25.5) 1.0
 Passenger 77 (69.4) 34 (30.6) 1.2 (0.9 to 1.7)
Headrest
 Adjustable headrest 269 (74.9) 90 (25.1) 1.0
 Fixed headrest 25 (73.5) 9 (26.5) 1.0 (0.5 to 1.7)
 No headrest 18 (75.0) 6 (25.0) 1.0 (0.5 to 2.0)
Seatbelt use
 Yes 346 (73.6) 124 (26.4) 1.0
 No 6 (60.0) 4 (40.0) 1.5 (0.7 to 3.3)
Airbag
 No airbag/not deployed 326 (73.6) 117 (26.4) 1.0
 Airbag deployed 8 (80.0) 2 (20.0) 0.7 (0.2 to 2.5)

*Totals of rows vary due to some missing data.

†Adjusted for age and sex.