Why Is This Important?

Unintentional injury was the leading cause of deaths among persons aged 15-44 years and the fourth leading cause among all ages combined in 2020. Unintentional injuries are, for the most part, preventable.

Definition

Deaths with unintentional injury as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: V01-X59, Y85-Y86 Unintentional injuries are commonly referred to as accidents and include poisonings (drugs, alcohol, fumes, pesticides, etc.), motor vehicle crashes, falls, fire, drowning, suffocation, and any other external cause of death.

Data Notes

• Data have been age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.
• Only causes with more than 100 deaths each year are shown. "Poisoning" includes drugs, alcohol, gases, pesticides, and other chemicals and noxious substances. "Suffocation" includes inhalation or ingestion of food, gastric contents, or other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract; unintentional suffocation, strangulation, or hanging in bed or elsewhere; threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substances; trapped in a low-oxygen environment; and other threats to breathing.

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

• Numerator:

  Number of deaths due to specified unintentional injury type

• Denominator:

  Estimated number of persons in the population

Related Health Objectives and Indicators

Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:

• Emergency Department Visits due to Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Inpatient Hospitalizations due to Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Hip Fracture Hospitalizations among Older Adults

Related Risk Factors Indicators:

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Self-Reported Presence in Home
• Portable Generators: Self-Reported Ownership for Use during Power Outages
• Seat Belt Usage by Drivers and Front Seat Passengers (Observed)
• Seatbelt Usage (Self-Reported)

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:

• Deaths due to Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Deaths due to Falls
• Deaths due to Motor Vehicle-Related Injuries
• Fatal Occupational Injuries
• Deaths due to Unintentional Poisoning

Health Topic Pages Related to: Deaths due to Unintentional Injury

• Injury and Violence
• Leading Causes of Death