title: Comparison of injury case fatality rates in the United States and New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare injury case fatality rates in the United States (US) with New Zealand (NZ) to guide future information collection, research, and evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using NZ (1992-96) and US (1996-98) mortality censuses, NZ national 1992-96 hospital discharge censuses, and US 1996-98 National Hospital Discharge Survey data, the authors compared case fatality rates by mechanism and intent of injury and age group. The analysis was restricted to severe injuries (AIS> or =3).
  
  
  METHODS
  NZ (1992-96) and US (1996-98) populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ratio of case fatality rates in NZ versus the US (RCFR(NZ:US)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, among cases meeting the study criteria, unintentional injuries were 1.57 times more likely fatal in NZ and intentional assault injuries were 1.14 times more likely to be fatal in the US. Firearms were involved in 50% of US assaults versus 8% of NZ assaults. By mechanism, cutting/piercing injuries were 1.86, firearm injuries were 1.41, and motor vehicle injuries were 1.44 times more to be likely fatal in NZ. Natural/environmental injuries (RCFR(NZ:US) = 0.57), unintentional poisonings (RCFR(NZ:US) = 0.26), and unintentional suffocations (RCFR(NZ:US) = 0.67) were significantly more likely to be fatal in the US.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Possible reasons for the observed results include: differences in geography and proportion of population in rural areas, trauma system differences, road design and vehicle types, seat belt use, larger role of firearms in US assaults, coding practices, policies, and environmental factors. Disparities evoke hypotheses to test in future research that will guide priority setting and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Calverton, MD, USA. spicer@pire.org
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spicer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000401:mortality