Unintentional injury mortality in the European Union: How many more lives could be saved?

Abstract

A substantial proportion of lives lost due to unintentional injury might be saved if all countries were to achieve the lowest unintentional injury mortality rates in the EU. The above calculations are based on a simple theoretical model but there is increasing evidence on the array of existing effective preventive interventions and improved trauma care calls for public health action in each member state that could in practice halt, to the extent possible, the unintentional injury epidemic.

Rising mortality from injury in urban China: demographic burden, underlying causes and policy implications

“…Injury mortality rates in the chosen reference countries are low and the mortality data have almost 100% coverage and completeness, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). [10][11][12] We applied to urban China these countries' age-and sex-specific injury mortality rates (Appendix A and Appendix B, both available at: http://hdl. handle.net/1885/8988) by using double decrement life tables while retaining the prevailing non-injury mortality rates.…”

Injury mortality in Sweden; changes over time and the effect of age and injury mechanism

“…4) as Sweden already has one of the lowest childhood mortality rates in the European Union (21). This indicates that further reduction can be obtained in other countries too.…”

“…Unintentional injuries is dominating and represents more than 90 % of all injuries among children (39). It has been estimated that 35% of the unintentional injuries in the working age group (18-64) could potentially be prevented (21). Intentional trauma mortality (self-harm and assault) has been found to be higher in areas with higher numbers of inhabitants (26).…”

“…Death caused by injuries is the leading cause of death for children in Sweden, although the Swedish numbers are among the lowest in the world (6,21). Injuries are most likely the most common cause of death because other causes of death like, cancer and infections has been prevented or treated with better results (22).…”

Outcomes in Pediatric Trauma Care in the Stockholm Region

“…Traffic accidents are the major cause of fatalities, whereas falls are the leading cause of the burden of injuries in children under 15 years and the most common cause of mortality and morbidity among young children with traumatic head injuries [1]. A recent study from Europe suggested that approximately 47% of the annual child deaths caused by unintentional injury in Europe as a whole are potentially avoidable, judging from the low mortality rates reported in Sweden [2].…”