Table 2.
RLSSA Database drowning cases compared with drowning cases with ICD-10 codes W65-74 as UCoD only by sex, age group, state or territory of drowning incident, category of aquatic location of drowning incident, activity immediately prior to drowning (n=1428)
| RLSSA Database drowning cases | ICD-10 codes W65-74 as UCoD only | % difference | χ2 comparing all drowning deaths to the subsample of W65-74 as UCoD only (P value)* | |
| Total | 1428 | 866 | 39.4 | – |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 1098 | 669 | 39.1 | 0.12 (P=0.73) |
| Female | 330 | 197 | 40.3 | |
| Age group (years) | ||||
| 0–17 | 268 | 198 | 26.1 | 34.47 (P<0.001) |
| 18–54 | 709 | 401 | 43.4 | 12.03 (P=0.001) |
| 55+ | 451 | 267 | 40.8 | 1.29 (P=0.26) |
| Resident status of drowning victim | ||||
| Australian | 1343 | 809 | 39.8 | 3.60 (P=0.06) |
| Overseas | 63 | 44 | 30.2 | |
| Unknown | 22 | 13 | 40.9 | – |
| State or territory of drowning incident | ||||
| ACT | 8 | 5 | 37.5 | 0.00 (P=0.98) |
| NSW | 532 | 312 | 41.4 | 2.03 (P=0.15) |
| NT | 43 | 28 | 34.9 | 0.25 (P=0.62) |
| QLD | 360 | 207 | 42.5 | 0.36 (P=0.55) |
| SA | 72 | 49 | 31.9 | 2.01 (P=0.16) |
| TAS | 62 | 38 | 38.7 | 0.01 (P=0.91) |
| VIC | 184 | 103 | 44.0 | 2.00 (P=0.16) |
| WA | 167 | 124 | 25.7 | 10.36 (P=0.001) |
| Category of aquatic location of drowning incident | ||||
| Bathtub/spa bath | 97 | 56 | 42.3 | 0.33 (P=0.57) |
| Beach | 214 | 173 | 19.2 | 40.01 (P<0.001) |
| Lake/dam/lagoon | 122 | 71 | 41.8 | 0.29 (P=0.59) |
| Ocean/harbour | 228 | 91 | 60.1 | 46.64 (P<0.001) |
| River/creek/stream | 406 | 206 | 49.3 | 28.66 (P<0.001) |
| Rocks | 77 | 67 | 13.0 | 25.48 (P<0.001) |
| Swimming pool | 222 | 161 | 27.5 | 19.91 (P<0.001) |
| Other/unknown | 62 | 41 | 33.9 | 0.77 (P=0.38) |
| Activity prior to drowning | ||||
| Bathing | 98 | 56 | 42.9 | 0.50 (P=0.48) |
| Diving | 69 | 57 | 17.4 | 16.26 (P<0.001) |
| Falls | 292 | 227 | 22.3 | 56.43 (P<0.001) |
| Non-aquatic transport | 115 | 15 | 87.0 | 128.61 (P<0.001) |
| Rock fishing | 56 | 49 | 12.5 | 18.58 (P<0.001) |
| Swimming and recreating | 304 | 249 | 18.1 | 75.61 (P<0.001) |
| Watercraft | 216 | 63 | 70.8 | 109.09 (P<0.001) |
| Other | 133 | 88 | 33.8 | 1.09 (P=0.30) |
| Unknown | 145 | 62 | 57.2 | 26.37 (P<0.001) |
Those cases with unknown ICD coding are included in the RLSSA column only.
*Calculated based on the ICD-10 codes W65-74 as UCoD only yes/no variable.
ICD, International Classification of Diseases; RLSSA, Royal Life Saving Society - Australia; UCoD, underlying cause of death.