title: Epidemiology of unintentional carbon monoxide fatalities in the UK.
abstract: This study aims to describe the epidemiology of unintentional non-fire related CO fatalities in the UK and to relate this information to sources of CO. Data from the CO-Gas Safety Society (COGSS) database was analysed and compared with data from the English House Condition Survey (EHCS). There were 462 deaths from the COGSS database, from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2007 inclusive. The relative risk for death due to non-gas vs gas fuels was 10.52 (95% CI 7.71-14.34). The main weakness of the study is the likely underascertainment of CO deaths in the database. However, this study has identified specific risk factors for CO-related deaths in the UK; the use of non-gas fuels has not previously been highlighted as a significant cause of CO poisoning, and the relative risk (although not the absolute risk) of CO-related fatalities from these fuels is substantial.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (London), Health Protection Agency, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Juniac
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kreis
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ibison
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000592:standards; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002248:Carbon Monoxide