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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Scallan
Elaine
E
Department of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, University College Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 1, Ireland. escallan@cdc.gov
Staines
Anthony
A
Fitzpatrick
Patricia
P
Laffoy
Marie
M
Kelly
Alan
A
D000059:Accidents / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D019352:Censuses; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality*