All injuries

Introduction

This section is focused on injury hospitalisations and deaths. Injuries treated in other settings, or not treated, are excluded. Results therefore underestimate the population-level impacts of injuries. Coding injuries is more complex than for other health conditions because injuries also include an external cause. Further, coding systems have changed over time. Technical information at the end of this section is provided to assist with interpreting results.

Hospitalisations

In 2020–21, the Queensland age-standardised hospitalisation rate (ASR or standardised rate) for all injuries was 3,808.9 per 100,000 persons (Figure 1).¹

Demographic differences

Hospitalisation rates varied by demographic characteristics. In 2020–21, Queensland standardised hospitalisation rates for all injuries were 28.0% higher in males (4,277.2 per 100,000 for males compared to 3,341.9 per 100,000 for females) (Figure 1).

Differences were also evident by age group. In 2020–21, Queensland age-specific hospitalisation rates for all injuries were:

• 3.0 times higher in adults 65 years and older (9,346.4 per 100,000 persons for adults 65 and older compared to 3,148.1 per 100,000 persons for adults 40 to 64 years)
• males had higher injury rates in all age groups except for 65 years and older with rates 13.8% higher in females (9,917.2 per 100,000 compared to 8,716.3 per 100,000).

Remoteness and socioeconomic differences

Regions within Queensland can be classified by remoteness² and the area-based index of relative socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage.³

Rates for all injuries varied by remoteness and socioeconomic status (Figure 1).

In 2020–21, the standardised hospitalisation rate was 73.9% higher in remote and very remote areas than in major cities (6,344.9 per 100,000 persons compared to 3,647.7 per 100,000 persons respectively). The standardised hospitalisation rate per 100,000 persons in 2020–21 for all injuries was 52.2% higher in disadvantaged areas compared to advantaged areas (4,756.6 compared to 3,125.9, respectively) (Figure 1).

Trends

Hospitalisation rates for all injuries have been steadily increasing for almost two decades overall and among older adults.

• From 2002–03 to 2020–21, injury hospitalisation rates in adults 65 years and older increased by 94.3% (112.2% in males and 86.0% in females).
• There was a notable decrease across all age groups in 2019–20—likely due to behavioural change and public safety measures related to COVID-19.
• For those under 65 years, males have higher hospitalisation rates than females for all comparative time points and age groups. However, females have higher rates of hospitalisation than males in those age 65 and over (Figure 2).

Mortality

In 2020, the overall Queensland standardised mortality rate for all injuries was 38.2 per 100,000 persons (Figure 3).¹

Demographic differences

Injury mortality showed similar sex and age differences as for injury hospitalisations, however, the sex difference in the oldest age group differed.

• In 2020, Queensland standardised mortality rates for all injuries were 2.8 times higher in males (57.1 per 100,000 for males compared to 20.7 per 100,000 for females) (Figure 3).
• Differences were also evident by age group. For example, in 2020, Queensland mortality rates for all injuries were 87.8% higher in males 65 years and older compared to females (139.5 compared to 74.3 standardised rate per 100,000, respectively).

Remoteness and socioeconomic differences

Regions within Queensland can be classified by remoteness² and the area-based index of relative socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage.³

• Mortality rates for all injuries were 31.5% higher in remote and very remote areas than in major cities (44.7 and 34.0 per 100,000 persons, respectively) (Figure 3).
• Mortality rates for all injuries were 76.2% higher in the most disadvantaged areas than in the most advantaged areas (53.2 and 30.2 per 100,000 persons, respectively).

Trends

Trends in all injury mortality were largely stable from 2002 to 2020. More recently, all injury deaths have decreased, driven by decreasing rates in older females. Due to disruptions from COVID-19, it is unknown at this time whether this decline will be sustained.

Males have higher mortality from injuries than females for all age groups and comparative time points (Figure 4).

Additional information

Data and statistics

Explore this topic further in the AIHW report Injury in Australia.

Section technical notes

Rates are standardised to Australian standard population 2001 per 100,000 population.

For table data: “NA” indicates results that are unavailable or suppressed due to small sample size or not calculated.

Hospitalisations:

• Queensland Health Statistical Services Branch (SSB): ICD Code definition of all injuries hospitalisation data: Injury and poisoning, excluding complications of medical and surgical care (V01-Y36, Y85-Y89, and no external cause between Y37 and Y84)
• Admission practices likely changed as a result of COVID-19. Trends that include 2020 or 2021 data should be assessed with caution.

Mortality:

• ICD Code definition of SSB all injuries mortality data: Injury and poisoning, excluding complications of medical and surgical care (V01-Y36, Y85-Y89)
• Deaths registered in 2019 and 2020 are subject to change. Deaths for 2020 are underestimated due to late death registrations, especially for First Nations population. Results should be interpreted with caution.

References

1. Queensland Health. 2020. Queensland hospital admitted patient data collection (QHAPDC). Accessed: 12 November 2022.
2. Hugo Centre for Migration and Population Research. 2018. Accessibility/remoteness index of Australia (ARIA). Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA). Accessed: 1 October 2022.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2018. Socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA) 2016. 2033.0.55.001 - Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia, 2016. Accessed: 1 October 2022.