Epidemiology of unintentional carbon monoxide fatalities in the UK

Int J Environ Health Res. 2012;22(3):210-9. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2011.628645. Epub 2011 Dec 16.

Abstract

This study aims to describe the epidemiology of unintentional non-fire related CO fatalities in the UK and to relate this information to sources of CO. Data from the CO-Gas Safety Society (COGSS) database was analysed and compared with data from the English House Condition Survey (EHCS). There were 462 deaths from the COGSS database, from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2007 inclusive. The relative risk for death due to non-gas vs gas fuels was 10.52 (95% CI 7.71-14.34). The main weakness of the study is the likely underascertainment of CO deaths in the database. However, this study has identified specific risk factors for CO-related deaths in the UK; the use of non-gas fuels has not previously been highlighted as a significant cause of CO poisoning, and the relative risk (although not the absolute risk) of CO-related fatalities from these fuels is substantial.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Carbon Monoxide / analysis
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / etiology
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / mortality*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Heating / standards
  • Housing / standards
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • International Classification of Diseases
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seasons
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Carbon Monoxide