February 2017

Overview

Injuries and violence are widespread in society and a serious public health problem¹ that affects all age groups.² Every year, nearly 199,800 people die from unintentional injuries and violence in the United States—about 1 person every 3 minutes.³ In 2013, the total costs of injuries and violence in the United States was $671 billion.³

Both unintentional injuries and those caused by acts of violence are among the top 10 causes of death for Americans of all ages.⁴ Unintentional injuries and violence-related injuries can be caused by a number of events, such as motor vehicle crashes and physical assault, and can occur virtually anywhere.⁵ Many people accept them as “accidents,” “acts of fate,” or as “part of life.” However, most injuries are predictable and preventable.¹

Beyond immediate health consequences, injuries and violence have a significant impact on the well-being of Americans by contributing to premature death, disability and disability-adjusted life years lost, mental health problems, high medical costs, and lost productivity.¹

The effects of injuries and violence also extend well beyond the injured person or victim of violence, impacting family members, friends, coworkers, employers, and communities.⁵

Learn More About Injury and Violence

Leading Health Indicators

Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) are critical health issues that—if tackled appropriately—will dramatically reduce the leading causes of death and preventable illnesses. The Injury and Violence LHIs are:

• Injury deaths (IVP-1.1)
• Homicides (IVP-29)

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

Between 2005 and 2015, the death rate from all injuries regardless of intent increased by 9.6%, from 58.3 to 63.9 deaths per 100,000 population (age adjusted). During the same time period, the homicide rate declined 6.6%, from 6.1 to 5.7 deaths per 100,000 population (age adjusted). In 2015, several population groups had lower rates of injury death and homicide than their counterparts, including the Asian or Pacific Islander population and women. While those residing in metropolitan areas had a lower rate of injury deaths, they had a higher rate of homicide than those living in non-metropolitan areas.

Who’s Leading the Leading Health Indicators?

Integrating Fall Prevention into Primary Care in Oregon

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults aged 65 years and older.¹ But falls aren’t an inevitable part of aging—and that’s the premise behind the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) Initiative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Read the Full Story

Leading Health Indicator Infographic

¹ https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/injury-and-violence-prevention

² https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/index.html

³ https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/overview/key_data.html

⁴ https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/leadingcauses.html

⁵ https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Injury-and-Violence

Find us on:           

Healthy People is a Federal Government Web site managed by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. – Washington, D.C. 20201