[Mortality from external causes: influence of age and gender].

UNLABELLED

The article AIMS to evaluate mortality from external causes in Lithuania in 1990 and in 1997 and influence of age and gender on it.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The primary data of official demographic statistics were used for analysis, after adjustment by age - European standard. Four external causes of death (suicides, homicides, traffic accidents and all external causes) were examined. Years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to premature death from external causes were calculated. THE RESULTS obtained showed that age adjusted male suicides mortality increased by 7.7%, from homicides - by 3.0% and from all external causes - by 3.2% per year. Female suicide mortality increased by 5.9%, from homicides - by 1.7% and from all external causes increased by 2.0% per year. Male traffic accidents decreased approximately by 4.8% and those of females approximately 5.0% per year.

CONCLUSIONS

Males had higher mortality in almost all age groups. Male suicides and all external causes mortality increased from 10-14 years to maximum at the age of 50-54 years and then decreased. Female mortality from these two reasons from 10-14 years increased with age. Maximal female homicide mortality was found at the age of 35-49 years. Male traffic accident mortality at the age of 20-24 years and that of females at the age of 10-14 and 20-29 years increased from 1990 to 1997 despite decline in other age groups. The YPLL per 100000 due to all external causes increased from 4598 in 1990 to 5297 in 1997 for males and from 940 to 1106 for females.