ObjectiveTo analyze the incidence level and trend of injury death in the residents in Ningbo of Zhejiang province.

MethodsThe incidence data of injury-related deaths in Ningbo during 2004–2018, collected through the death registry system in Ningbo, were analyzed by using linear regression models to understand the epidemiological characteristics of injury death in total population and the following major 4 subgroups: urban males, urban females, rural males and rural females.

ResultsThe annual standardized injury mortality rate decreased significantly from 48.47/100 000 person-years in 2004 to 26.81/100 000 person-years in 2018 in total population (β＝−0.039, P＜0.01). The average male to female ratio of annual standardized injury mortality rate was 1.74, with a significant decrease (β＝−0.021, P＜0.01). And the average rural to urban ratio of annual standardized injury mortality rate was 1.38, with no obvious change (β＝−0.010, P＝0.131). And the mean age of injury death cases increased significantly from 54 years old in 2004 to 80 years old in 2018 (β＝1.861, P＜0.01). The standardized mortality rates of motor vehicle traffic accident and drowning dropped and fall increased in all the 4 sub-groups. The standardized mortality rates of poisoning and suicide declined only in rural residents.

ConclusionThough the injury mortality rate was in decline in Ningbo in recent years, the age of injury death cases was in increase. The difference in injury mortality still existed between urban area and rural area, but the gender specific difference became smaller. It is necessary to take target prevention and control measures in populations at high risks for motor vehicle traffic accident, fall, drowning and suicide.