Trends in mortality due to unintentional poisoning by gender, age and cause in Taiwan: 1986-2007

Objectives: To examine the trends in mortality due to unintentional poisoning in Taiwan by gender, age, and cause between 1986 and 2007. Methods: We analyzed routine mortality data from the official publications of vital statistics from 1986 to 2007 in order to determine trends by gender, age and cause of death adjusted by Year 2000 Standard Population. Linear regression was used to determine the trends. Results: A total of 12,916 people in Taiwan died as a result of unintentional poisoning between 1986 and 2007. There was a downward trend in the total mortality rate, a decline of 73.6%. The mortality rate due to unintentional poisoning for males was higher than that for females (rate ratio: 2.07). The mortality rate increased by age, but the mortality rates within all age groups declined. Pesticides (38.3%) and drugs (33.7%) were the two dominant poisoning agents, yet the mortality rates for both declined. The former had the largest decrease (96.1%), so that, as a result, drugs have become the leading cause of death since 2000, rising 71% of the total from 2000 to 2007. The mortality rate from carbon monoxide, the third leading poisoning agent (9.42%), increased 27%; however, the change was not significant over the 22-year period, although it has been the second leading agent since 2002. Conclusions: Although the mortality rate due to unintentional poisoning has declined, we should still develop prevention programs to reduce mortality due to drug or carbon monoxide poisoning.