Data sources and methodology - overview

The data and analysis has been produced by the Injury Observatory and compares rates and trends in deaths due to injury between Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Wales, England and the nine English regions. Underlying numbers are also provided. The injury categories and ICD9 and ICD10 diagnostic codes used are those recommended by the ‘International Collaborative Effort (ICE) on Injury Statistics’.

The analysis is based on region of residence and year of occurrence of death. Non-residents are excluded. Deaths occurring to residents whilst abroad where the deaths have been registered abroad are also excluded.

2003 has been chosen as the most recent year for which complete data is available, with the exception of Northern Ireland, for which 2002 data has been substituted. The completeness of data for later years is affected by delays in registration of deaths where there has been an inquest to investigate the cause of death.

Rates have been age-standardised to take into account underlying variation in the age profile of each region’s population. 95% confidence intervals are also provided with the rates and these enable identification of statistically significant differences.