Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

PercentageFigure 17bMechanism of injury by intent for females, Dudley 2004-2008100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%MechanismOsteoporosisHomicide and probable homicideSuicideMental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance useUndeterminedUnintentionalSource: Secondary Users Service (SUS) Hospital AdmissionsOffice of National Statistics (ONS) mid-year population estimatePatterns of injury and poisoning emergency hospital admissions for the topfive mechanisms by ageEmergency hospital admission rates vary by five-year age band according to themechanism of external cause. For falls and fractures in both males and femalesthere is a strong relationship with age, with rates high in the under 15 age band,gradually declining across the age bands to 35-39, when rates begin to increase withincreasing age, with a rapid rise after age 65. In the under 15 age band and the 65+age band falls and fractures are by far the highest mechanism of emergency hospitaladmissions from external causes (Figure 18a & b). For males the other mechanismsshow a similar pattern across age bands, with rates lowest in the 5 to 9 age band andrates rise to a maximum in early adulthood. The age band of the peak varies bymechanism – for transport and it is age 15-24, whereby it then declines graduallyacross the older age bands, whereas for poisoning the peak is in men aged 20-39.Struck by/against admission rates peak for the 15-19 age band and then graduallydecline with increasing age. Cut/pierce gradually increases to a maximum rate atage 20-24 and again gradually declines with increasing age.For females, rates for all mechanisms with the exception of falls and fracture werelowest in the 5-9 age band. Rates then rise for age, but there is only a clear peak forpoisoning at 15-19 years and transport in young adults (15-24 years). Poisoningsdecline rapidly by age 25 but remain at this elevated level through to age 49, when itgradually declines to very low levels.173