Case Fatality Ratio by Method of Self-Harm, United States, 2001
|
Fatal |
Nonfatal |
Total |
% Fatal | |
| Firearm | 16,869 | 2,980 | 19,849 | 85% |
| Suffocation | 6,198 | 2,761 | 8,959 | 69% |
|
Poisoning/overdose |
5,191 | 215,814 | 221,005 | 2% |
|
Fall |
651 | 1434 | 2,085 | 31% |
|
Cut/pierce |
458 | 62,817 | 63,275 | 1% |
|
Other |
1,109 | 35,089 | 36,198 | 3% |
|
Unspecified |
146 | 2097 | 2,243 | 7% |
|
Total |
30,622 | 322,991 | 353,613 | 9% |
This table covers all U.S. suicide deaths in 2001 and estimated visits to the emergency department (ED) for nonfatal self-harm (based on a nationally-representative sample of emergency departments). "Case Fatality Ratio" (% fatal) is the proportion of cases recorded in a year that are fatal. The ED estimate overstates ED-treated suicide attempts because non-suicidal self-harm cannot be disaggregated from actual suicide attempts; at the same time, it underestimates nonfatal suicide attempts since most suicide attempts do not result in care.
Source: Vyrostek SB, Annest JL, Ryan GW. Surveillance for fatal and nonfatal injuries--United States, 2001. MMWR. 2004:53(SS07);1-57. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5307a1.htm