This study describes the epidemiology of unintentional home injuries resulting in death or admission to hospital among young and middle-age New Zealanders. The study authors selected cases from Ministry of Health public hospital discharge (2000–2009) and mortality data (1998–2007), and included all 20–64 year olds where the place of injury occurrence was classified as ‘home’. Only initial hospitalisations with a stay of ≥24 hours were included. The analysis revealed that on average 4,000 young and middle-age adults are admitted to hospital and 60 die annually as a result of unintentional injuries sustained at home. The highest mortality rates are associated with being male, older age (50 to 64 years), and Māori. Similarly, the highest hospitalisation rates are amongst males, older age groups (>40 years), and Māori. Poisoning, falls, and burns are the leading causes of unintentional home injury deaths. As age increased so did the incidence of hospital admission. The leading contributors resulting in admission to hospital were falls, cutting or piercing, overexertion, and poisoning. Falls-related injuries had the highest median length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality rate. As deprivation increased so did the frequency of hospital admissions due to fall and cutting or piercing injuries.
