目標： 瞭解台灣地區意外中毒在性別、年齡與原因的長期趨勢。方法： 本研究以1986-2007年衛生署公佈的「衛生統計」資料，分別計算22年意外中毒死亡在「性別」、「年齡別」與「原因別」死亡率的趨勢變化，並使用2000年世界標準人口調整年齡結構。結果：台灣22年共有12,916人死於意外中毒，整體死亡率呈下降趨勢，降幅73.6%。以性別區分，男性死亡率高於女性，且平均死亡率為女性的2.07倍；在年齡部分，死亡率隨年齡增加而上升，而各年齡層死亡率逐年下降。有關中毒的原因，農藥中毒(佔38.3%)及藥物中毒(佔33.7%)為台灣地區民眾的主要死因，死亡率均呈下降趨勢，前者22年下降幅度最大，降幅96.1%；後者於2000年後取代農藥中毒成為第一死因，自2000年至2007年上升71%；一氧化碳中毒排名第三(佔9.42%)，22年來，死亡率上升27%，但未達統計顯著意義，並於2002年成為第二死因。結論：近年來，藥物意外中毒再度上升，並成為第一死因，應加強藥品管制與用藥安全宣導；另外，一氧化碳中毒應從避免家用瓦斯、汽車廢氣及職場暴露意外中毒三方面採取防制措施。

Objectives: To examine the trends in mortality due to unintentional poisoning in Taiwan by gender, age, and cause between 1986 and 2007. Methods: We analyzed routine mortality data from the official publications of vital statistics from 1986 to 2007 in order to determine trends by gender, age and cause of death adjusted by Year 2000 Standard Population. Linear regression was used to determine the trends. Results: A total of 12,916 people in Taiwan died as a result of unintentional poisoning between 1986 and 2007. There was a downward trend in the total mortality rate, a decline of 73.6%. The mortality rate due to unintentional poisoning for males was higher than that for females (rate ratio: 2.07). The mortality rate increased by age, but the mortality
rates within all age groups declined. Pesticides (38.3%) and drugs (33.7%) were the two dominant poisoning agents, yet the mortality rates for both declined. The former had the largest decrease (96.1%), so that, as a result, drugs have become the leading cause of death since 2000,
rising 71% of the total from 2000 to 2007. The mortality rate from carbon monoxide, the third leading poisoning agent (9.42%), increased 27%; however, the change was not significant over the 22-year period, although it has been the second leading agent since 2002. Conclusions: Although
the mortality rate due to unintentional poisoning has declined, we should still develop prevention programs to reduce mortality due to drug or carbon monoxide poisoning.