Is Sweden still a role model for safety? An overview of unintentional injury data over the past two decades.
This study investigates injury-related mortality and hospitalisations, during 1987-2007 in Sweden. Injuries were classified according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD)--8 for pre-1987 injuries, ICD-9 for 1987-1996 injuries and ICD-10 for injuries occurring in 1997 and later. Data on mortality from injuries during 1987-2007 were collected from Sweden's national Cause-of-Death Register, while data concerning injury diagnoses leading to hospitalisation stays of at least 24 h, occurring during 1987-2007, were obtained from the national Patient Register. Crude rates were derived for injury-related deaths and injury-related hospitalisations for age-gender groups, using population data from Statistics Sweden. Our results showed a mixed picture of injury-related hospitalisations and deaths over the study period. Absolute numbers of injury-related deaths and injury-related hospitalisations decreased over time for the population as a whole and for many, but not all, age-gender groups. When assessing crude injury-related death rates and crude injury-related hospitalisation rates over time, as categorised by gender and age groupings, we also found unchanging or increased risks for injury-related deaths and/or hospitalisations for several age-gender groups. While Sweden has made remarkable progress in reducing injury-related deaths and hospitalisations, there are clear differences in risk that remain.
Ekman
Diana S
DS
Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. dianastarkekman@gmail.com
Nilsen
Per
P
Schelp
Lothar
L
Schyllander
Jan
J
Ryen
Linda
L
Ekman
Robert
R
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012449:Safety; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult