Decline in all-cause and alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths in Finland

Abstract Background Unintentional injuries are a major public health burden, with a substantial proportion linked to alcohol. We examined national and regional trends in all-cause and alcohol-related unintentional injury mortality in Finland. Methods We used the open-access Causes of Death register from Statistics Finland to analyze deaths from unintentional injuries (ICD-10: V00-X59, Y85-Y86) during 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. Mortality rates were calculated for all unintentional injuries and those related to alcohol. A death was classified as alcohol-related if it involved alcohol in a non-poisoning injury (excluding X40-X49) or was due to alcohol poisoning (X45). Analyses were conducted across Finland's 22 wellbeing services counties responsible for healthcare organization. Results The overall unintentional injury mortality rate decreased by 1.6 per 100,000 (45.1 to 43.5; 95% CI: -2.7 to -0.5), with statistically significant decreases in 2 of 22 counties. Alcohol-related unintentional injury mortality declined from 10.6 to 8.3 (95% CI: -2.9 to -1.9), with 11 counties showing statistically significant decreases and none showing increases. The proportion of alcohol-related unintentional injury deaths dropped from 23.6% to 19.0% (95% CI: -5.6% to -2.1%), with 10 counties showing statistically significant reductions. In 2019-2023, unintentional injury mortality rates ranged from 29.7 to 68.3 across counties; alcohol-related rates ranged from 5.1 to 14.1; and alcohol-related shares ranged from 15.0% to 22.7%. Multiple statistically significant inter-county differences were observed. Conclusions All-cause and alcohol-related unintentional injury mortality have declined in Finland. This may reflect changing alcohol consumption patterns in groups vulnerable to risky alcohol use. Significant regional disparities persist. Key messages • All-cause and alcohol-related unintentional injury mortality are decreasing nationally in Finland. • Marked regional disparities in unintentional injury mortality remain across the country.