TY - JOUR
T1 - Population-based case-control study of risk factors for unintentional mortality from carbon monoxide poisoning in Taiwan
AU - Shie, Huei Guan
AU - Li, Chung Yi
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from the Health Promotion Bureau, Department of Health (DOH94-HP-1308) and the National Science Council (NSC94-2314-B-030-002).
PY - 2007/1
Y1 - 2007/1
N2 - We carried out a population-based case-control study to identify people in Taiwan who are at increased risk of unintentional mortality from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (ICD-9 CM: 986 or E868). The study included all 439 deaths from unintentional CO poisoning registered in Taiwan's National Mortality Registry during 1997-2003, whereas 878 control subjects were randomly selected, with a control/case ratio of 2, from all deceased individuals from other causes during the same period. The annual mortality rate of CO poisoning significantly increased in Taiwan over the 7-yr period from 1.6 to 3.5 per 106 person-years. Thirty-six percent (n = 160) of the deaths occurred at home, and 21% (n = 93) were registered as in-hospital mortalities. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that married people had a significantly reduced mortality odds ratio (MOR) of 0.50 (95% CI = 0.30-0.82) compared to single individuals. Additionally, residents of northern Taiwan (which is relatively urban) had a notably higher MOR of CO poisoning (MOR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.40-8.44) than people residing in eastern Taiwan (which is relatively rural). Moreover, the MOR peaked in cold periods. A daily maximum temperature of <18.4°C was associated with a 2.15-fold increase in the MOR compared to a daily maximum temperature of ≥27.1°C. This study demonstrates an alarming increase in the unintentional death rate from CO poisoning in Taiwan between 1997 and 2003. Certain demographic and geographic characteristics were significant predictors for CO poisoning, suggesting a need for preventive strategies targeting these high-risk populations. Precautions should also be taken during periods of low temperatures.
AB - We carried out a population-based case-control study to identify people in Taiwan who are at increased risk of unintentional mortality from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (ICD-9 CM: 986 or E868). The study included all 439 deaths from unintentional CO poisoning registered in Taiwan's National Mortality Registry during 1997-2003, whereas 878 control subjects were randomly selected, with a control/case ratio of 2, from all deceased individuals from other causes during the same period. The annual mortality rate of CO poisoning significantly increased in Taiwan over the 7-yr period from 1.6 to 3.5 per 106 person-years. Thirty-six percent (n = 160) of the deaths occurred at home, and 21% (n = 93) were registered as in-hospital mortalities. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that married people had a significantly reduced mortality odds ratio (MOR) of 0.50 (95% CI = 0.30-0.82) compared to single individuals. Additionally, residents of northern Taiwan (which is relatively urban) had a notably higher MOR of CO poisoning (MOR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.40-8.44) than people residing in eastern Taiwan (which is relatively rural). Moreover, the MOR peaked in cold periods. A daily maximum temperature of <18.4°C was associated with a 2.15-fold increase in the MOR compared to a daily maximum temperature of ≥27.1°C. This study demonstrates an alarming increase in the unintentional death rate from CO poisoning in Taiwan between 1997 and 2003. Certain demographic and geographic characteristics were significant predictors for CO poisoning, suggesting a need for preventive strategies targeting these high-risk populations. Precautions should also be taken during periods of low temperatures.
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U2 - 10.1080/08958370701432173
DO - 10.1080/08958370701432173
M3 - Article
C2 - 17687722
AN - SCOPUS:34547763328
SN - 0895-8378
VL - 19
SP - 905
EP - 912
JO - Inhalation Toxicology
JF - Inhalation Toxicology
IS - 10
ER -