title: Head injury incidence and mortality in New Zealand over 10 Years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although reducing the burden of head injuries is an important focus of several injury prevention initiatives, they remain a large proportion of injury-related deaths. In New Zealand, trends over time and the socio-economic distribution of the cause-specific incidence of head injuries have received little attention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed primary hospitalizations (2000-2009) and deaths (1999-2008) due to head injury using national mortality and hospital discharge databases, specifically exploring variations in age-specific rates by major causes over time and by socio-economic deprivation. Population-based incidence rate estimates were calculated using census denominators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children aged <5 years and adults aged ≥65 years had the highest rates of hospitalization and mortality, respectively. Transport-related incidents and falls were the leading causes, with most fatal injuries occurring on roads and most hospitalized injuries occurring at home. There was a significant increase in mortality rates among older adults over the decade, and in most age groups, mortality rates increased with increasing levels of socio-economic deprivation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this review alongside the significant risks of premature death and disability reinforce the need to explore policies that address the specific causes as well as socio-economic inequalities in their distribution in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kool
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chelimo
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ameratunga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult