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. 2015 Sep;33(9):1140-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.05.002. Epub 2015 May 13.

Carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in the United States, 1999 to 2012

Kanta Sircar  1 , Jacquelyn Clower  2 , Mi Kyong Shin  3 , Cathy Bailey  4 , Michael King  5 , Fuyuen Yip  4
Affiliations

Carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in the United States, 1999 to 2012

Kanta Sircar et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Sep.

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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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Age-adjusted UNFR CO Poisoning by state, 1999–2012, United States*. *Rates based on ≤10 deaths in the numerator not presented (Hawaii and District of Columbia). Per million.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Crude rate of CO poisonings by intent, fire-, and vehicular-relatedness. Trend from 1999 to 2012, United States.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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