Injury Mortality in Tuscany, 1987-2001

Introduction. Injuries are a considerable public health problem throughout the world and account for deaths, disability and suffering. We know that injuries are a rather heterogeneous group of illnesses, with different aetiology and risk groups, which share one important thing, namely the fact that they can all be prevented. Given that access to information is the key to sound policy-making, this paper provides an overview of injury mortality in Tuscany over the past 15 years. Methods. Information on deaths from major external causes (Codes: E900-E999) from 1987 to 2001 was obtained from the Tuscan Mortality Register. Mortality indicators by all injuries and major categories (road traffic injuries, falls, suicide, etc.) were calculated and analyzed according to the triad of time, place and person. Results. In the fifteen-year period considered, 27,844 injury deaths were registered (16,606 males and 11,238 females). The standardized rates were higher in males (52.7/100,000) than in females (21.4/100,000). From 1987 to 2001, we observed that while the death rates decreased in both males (-18%) and females (-19%), the number of deaths increased among females (+ 5%) when the ageing of the population is taken into consideration. Southern areas showed a higher risk of mortality. Discussion. Major advancements in the control of injuries will rely on evidence-based preventive actions.