Population density and occurrence of accidents in Finland.
BACKGROUND
About one million accidents occur yearly in Finland (population 5.2 million), resulting in over 3,000 deaths, annually. The governmental and municipal authorities are responsible for the healthcare services that respond to these accidents. So far, resources for these services have been allocated according to regional equality, or in some cases, on the basis of population numbers. However, economical and effective resource allocation should be based on detailed risk analysis of the accidents.


OBJECTIVE
In areas with more dense populations, the level of social activity is greater, which leads to an increased risk for accidents (traffic, civil disturbance, etc.).


METHODS
The number of accidents was estimated on the basis of registered emergency trauma patients using the Finnish healthcare statistics for the year 1999. The emergency visits were compared to the populations and populations' densities of the regional sub-units. The rate of emergency injuries was analysed by regression analysis according to varying population density in Finland.


RESULTS
The number of accidents per inhabitants was related directly to population density. There was a correlation between emergency visits per inhabitant and population density (p < 0.0001). According to estimates, each 1% increase in population density is associated with a 0.4% increase in the risk of accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between population density and rate of emergency visits is decisive for the planning of emergency services. Services should be placed in areas of high population densities where there are more people with greater risk of accidents.
Nieminen
Seppo
S
Department of Surgery, Turku University Central Hospital, Tur ku, Finland. seppo.nieminen@tyks.fi
Lehtonen
Olli-Pekka
OP
Linna
Miika
M
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011156:Population Density; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012044:Regression Analysis; D040841:Resource Allocation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*