Motorcycle Helmets - Cochrane Review Updated

An updated online version of the Cochrane Review, Helmets for Preventing Injury in Motorcycle Riders, was published in January, 2008.

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit and independent organization, that makes up-to-date and , accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide. The Collaboration does this by producing and distributing systematic reviews of interventions and by promoting the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Cochrane Reviews are based on the best available information about the evidence for and against the effectiveness and appropriateness of treatments and interventions. They are independent and objective.

For those interested in helmets, Cochrane Reviews provide valuable summaries of research on the effectiveness of bicycle helmets, motorcycle helmets, and legislation to promote helmet wearing.

The just-published review on motorcycle helmet effectiveness examined 61 observational studies. Although the studies were, according to the authors, of “varying quality”, they concluded that motorcycle helmets reduced the risk of death and head injury in motorcyclists who crashed, although the amount of reduction varied. In four “higher quality” studies, the risk of death was estimated to be 42%. In six other “higher quality” studies, the estimated reduction was 69%. Insufficient evidence was found to estimate the effect of motorcycle helmets compared with no helmet on facial or neck injuries. The authors, however, point out that studies of poorer quality suggest that helmets have no effect on the risk of neck injuries and are protective for facial injury. None of the studies provided enough evidence to demonstrate whether differences in helmet type confer more or les advantage in injury reduction.

The authors concluded that motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death and head injury in motorcycle riders who crash. They suggested that further research be undertaken to examine the effect of helmets and different helmet types on mortality, head, neck and facial injuries. Still, the authors suggested that in spite of gaps in knowledge, global efforts to reduce road traffic injuries may be facilitated by increasing helmet use by motorcyclists.

Liu BC, Ivers R, Norton R, et al. Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art No.: CD004333.

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