|
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
(Ottawa) Suicides account for one-third of all injury-related deaths in Ontario, reports the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). According to the Institutes latest report, there were 1,012 deaths due to suicides and self-inflicted injuries (including poisonings) in 1998-99. The majority (79%) of these suicide-related deaths was among men and the mean age of death was 44. "The statistics show that, on average, three people die of suicide and self-inflicted injuries every day in Ontario. Although suicides are usually associated with teens and young males, they are also a major health concern among middle-aged men," explains Greg Webster, CIHIs Manager of Clinical Registries. "Our report shows that suicides were the leading cause of injury-related deaths among men aged 35 to 64, accounting for 39% of all injury deaths in this group. By comparison, suicides accounted for 25% of all injury deaths among teenagers aged 10 to 19." While there has been a 3% decline in the number of deaths due to suicide and self-inflicted injuries (excluding poisonings) from 1994/95 to 1998/99, there has been a much larger decrease (21%) in the total number of injury deaths in the province. As a result, there is now a greater proportion of deaths due to suicide and self-inflicted injuries compared to five years ago (24% compared to 20%). "The data signal that we are not doing quite as good a job with suicide as with other injuries that cause death and that we need to work harder on removing fundamental causes of suicide," said Dr Isaac Sakinofsky of the High Risk Consultation Clinic at the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The statistics released today are from the Ontario Trauma Registry report, Injury Deaths in Ontario, 1998/99 Data. CIHIs report includes information on all deaths due to injury in Ontario as well as demographic information, cause of death, injury details, motor vehicle crash information and factors contributing to death (such as alcohol). This data is provided to CIHI by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. INJURY-RELATED DEATHS DECLINING From 1994/95 to 1998/99, there was a 21% decrease in the number of injury-related deaths in Ontario, down from 3,958 to 3,138. During this five-year period, the injury death rate also fell from 3.7 per 10,000 population to 2.9 population, a 22% decrease. LEADING CAUSES BY AGE GROUP In 1998/99, falls, motor vehicle collisions and suicide and self-inflicted injuries were the three leading causes of injury death and accounted for nearly 80% of all injury deaths in Ontario. Although falls are the overall leading cause of injury deaths (accounting for 28% of injury deaths) the leading cause varies by age group. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of injury death among the under 20 years of age group (37%) and the 20-34 age group (40%). Suicide and self-inflicted injuries (excluding poisonings) are the leading cause of injury death in the 35-64 age group (36%). Among Ontarios seniors, those aged 65 and older, unintentional falls are the leading cause of death due to injury (62%). REGIONAL COMPARISONS The injury death rate declined in all regions between 1994/95 and 1998/99, but in each year the two northern regions (Northwestern and Northeastern) had injury death rates that were at least 50% higher than the four non-northern regions (Southwestern, Central West, Central East and Eastern). In addition, the highest regional rate was consistently more than double the lowest regional rate. In 1998/99, the Northwestern region had the highest injury death rate at 6.4 per 10,000 population while the Central East region had the lowest rate at 2.4 per 10,000 population. In 1994/95, the Northwestern region had the highest injury death rate at 8.1 per 10,000 population while the Central East region had the lowest rate at 3.0. These rates are adjusted to take into account differences in age structures of these populations. The proportion of injury deaths attributed to specific causes also varied by region. For example, falls ranged from 17% in Northwest to 33% in Central West and Central East regions, while deaths due to motor vehicle collisions ranged from 21% in Central East and Northwest to 35% in Southwest. Suicide and self-inflicted injuries (excluding poisonings) accounted for 29% of all injury deaths in the Eastern region and 20% in Central West region. ONTARIO TRAUMA REGISTRY (OTR) The Ontario Trauma Registry (OTR) is managed by CIHI and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and provides data on hospitalizations and deaths resulting from injury. The goal of the OTR is to help reduce injury admissions and deaths in the province by identifying, describing and quantifying the nature and scope of injury in Ontario. The information is used by policy-makers, researchers, coroners, trauma care providers and injury prevention specialists to develop and monitor injury prevention programs. CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION (CIHI) The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, national, not-for-profit organization working to improve the health of Canadians and the health care system. CIHIs mandate, as established by Canadas Health Ministers, is to coordinate the development and maintenance of a common approach to health information for Canada. To this end, CIHI is responsible for providing accurate and timely information that is needed to establish sound health policies, manage the Canadian health system effectively and create public awareness of factors affecting good health. Figure 1: Injury Deaths and Suicides in Ontario, 1989/90-1998/99 Figure 2: Number and Rate of Suicides, by Age Group, Ontario, 1998/99 Figure 3: Causes of Injury Death in Ontario, 1998/99 Figure 4: Age-Adjusted Injury Death Rate and Number of Injury Deaths with Percent Distribution, by Ontario Region, 1998/99 Table 1: Trauma Injury Death Highlights, Ontario, 1994/95 1998/99 Table 2: External Causes of Injury (E Codes) for Trauma Deaths, Ontario, 1994/95 1998/99
|
