Unintentional injury in Ireland: a comparison of mortality and morbidity data.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between mortality and hospital admission data for the leading causes of unintentional injury in Ireland. METHODS Mortality data were obtained from the Central Statistics Office for the years 1980-1996. Information on hospital admissions was obtained from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry system for the years 1993-1997. RESULTS Motor vehicle traffic accidents were the leading cause of unintentional injury death. Falls were the most common cause of unintentional injury hospital admission. Drowning and suffocation had high ratios of deaths to admissions, 2:1 and 1:3, respectively. The ratio of deaths to admissions was 1:39 for all unintentional injuries. CONCLUSION Neither mortality data nor admissions data alone give an adequate guide to the impact of injuries, but together the two provide a reasonable basis on which to establish policy.

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