Injuries are more common among young people and the elderly in Ireland, according to the results of a major new study.

Key findings of the report included that both self-reported injury and emergency department presentations were highest among young people in the age group 15 to 34 years.

The report, which was commissioned by the Department of Health, is part of a series of data collected from SLAN 2007 - Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland.

The survey also found that traffic-related injuries, especially among men, were the leading cause of of injury-relate deaths.

These injuries were most common among young people (15 to 34 years), and much older people, with injury death rates peaking among those 15 to 24 and 75 to 84.

Other findings included that 9% of all adults and 43% of all schoolchildren reported one or more medically-attended injury in the previous 12 months.

Injuries were more prevalent among men and boys, and among those in the age group 12 to 29 years.

Of adults reporting an injury requiring medical treatment, 52% reported three or more days of lost activity as a result.

Actiovity loss due to injury was more common among those with lower income, unemployed and medical card holders.

In the adult population, the main locations where injuries occurred were in the home, at a sports facility and on the road.

Among schoolchildren, the main locations where injuries occurred were in the home, at a sports facility and on the road.

Lead author of the report, Dr Michal Molcho of NUI Galway, said it provides the most comprehensive information to date on injuries in Ireland.

"The findings incicdate that injuries are more common in young poeple and in the elderly, and that more severe injuries are more prevalent among those less well-off."

Read the report here