Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reports shifting injury trends

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency released the ‘2025 Injury Type and Cause Statistics,’ revealing significant shifts in injury patterns among different age groups. Among 98,615 injury patients treated at 29 emergency rooms, falls and slips accounted for 40.0% of all cases, the highest single cause.

There is a distinct age-based divide in these accidents: children under 10 years old are most susceptible to falls (falling from heights), while the elderly are primarily affected by slips (tripping or slipping on the same level). Notably, the proportion of patients aged 80 and older has tripled over the last decade. For those over 80, slips are particularly severe, resulting in a 33.1% hospitalization rate and a 42.5% mortality rate.

In terms of poisoning, there has been a sharp increase in patients aged 10 to 20, with their proportion nearly doubling over the last ten years. Approximately 69.4% of poisoning cases were intentional, with 58.5% occurring for suicidal purposes. The primary substance involved in these cases has shifted toward therapeutic drugs, which now account for 66.7% of poisonings, up from 44.0% in 2015.

Additionally, the report highlighted the importance of safety equipment. In vehicle accidents, the mortality rate for those not wearing seatbelts was twice as high as those who were, while motorcycle riders without helmets faced a mortality rate three times higher than those wearing them.