Abstract
Background
Unintentional, non-fire related (UNFR) carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths are preventable.
Surveillance of the populations most at-risk for unintentional, non-fire related (UNFR)
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is crucial for targeting prevention efforts.
Objective
This study provides estimates on UNFR CO poisoning mortality in the United States
and characterizes the at-risk populations.
Methods
We used 1999 to 2012 data to calculate death rates. We used underlying and multiple
conditions variables from death records to identify UNFR CO poisoning cases.
Results
For this study, we identified 6136 CO poisoning fatalities during 1999 to 2012 resulting
in an average of 438 deaths annually. The annual average age-adjusted death rate was
1.48 deaths per million. Fifty four percent of the deaths occurred in a home. Age-adjusted
death rates were highest for males (2.21 deaths per million) and non-Hispanic blacks
(1.74 deaths per million). The age-specific death rate was highest for those aged
≥85 years (6.00 deaths per million). The annual rate of UNFR CO poisoning deaths did
not change substantially during the study period, but we observed a decrease in the
rate of suicide and unintentional fire related cases.
Conclusion
CO poisoning was the second most common non-medicinal poisonings death. Developing
and enhancing current public health interventions could reduce ongoing exposures to
CO from common sources, such as those in the residential setting.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: May 13, 2015
Accepted:
May 7,
2015
Received in revised form:
April 30,
2015
Received:
February 11,
2015
Footnotes
☆Presentation of this material: Council of State and Territorial Epidemiology, June 2014.
☆☆Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
