Incidence and cause of fractures in European districts
- aCollaboration in Accident Prevention and Injury Control, Welsh Combined Centres for Public Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Wales, UK, bCSL, Midsweden University, Sweden, cDepartment of Public Health, Iechyd Morgannwg Health, Swansea, Wales, dSintef, Unimed, Norway, ePorvoo Health and Welfare Service, Finland
- Dr R Lyons, West Combined Centre for Public Health, 41 High Street, Swansea SA1 1LT, Wales, UK email:LYONSRA{at}cardiff.ac.uk
- Accepted 1 March 2000
Abstract
AIMS To compare fracture rates in European districts.
SETTING Geographically defined areas of Wales (Swansea and Neath Port Talbot), Norway (Harstad, Trondheim, Stavanger, and Drammen), Sweden (Jamtlands), and Finland (Porvoo).
METHODS Surveillance of fractures at emergency departments and hospitals and linkage with population data. Comparison of age adjusted and crude rates. Calculation of confidence intervals for ratios.
RESULTS A total of 4113 fractures occurred in 167 560 children during 1996. Fracture rates in south Wales (36 per 1000) were substantially higher than in Scandinavian districts (which were similar). Limiting analysis to the most severe injuries to correct for the possibility of ascertainment bias reduced some of the excess rate in Wales: the Welsh:Scandinavian fracture ratio was 1.82 (95% confidence interval: 1.64 to 2.03).
CONCLUSIONS Fracture rates in Welsh children are substantially higher than in Scandinavian children.
