Fatalities and Injuries from Falls Among Older Adults — United States, 1993–2003 and 2001–2005
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC)

This study examined trends in rates of fatal falls and hospitalizations for hip fractures during 1993–2003 and in rates of nonfatal injuries resulting from falls during 2001–2005. The findings indicate that rates of fatal falls increased significantly among both men and women but were consistently higher among men. Whites had the highest fatal fall rates, but an increasing trend was observed for all races. Changes in rates for nonfatal injuries from falls were not statistically significant.

Although only 3 years of rates for fatal falls and nonfatal injuries could be compared directly, the greater increase in the fatal falls rate can be partly explained by the increase in injury-causing falls overall. In addition, although fatal fall rates are age adjusted, residents of the United States are living longer in large part because of decreasing mortality from chronic conditions (e.g., heart disease, cancer, or stroke). The U.S. life expectancy increased from 75.5 years in 1993 to 77.6 years in 2003 (9). These changes have resulted in a U.S. population with a greater proportion of older adults who are living with chronic diseases, leaving them at greater risk for falling and less likely to survive the injuries resulting from a fall.

See also: Preventing Falls Among Older Adults (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control)

This entry was posted on Friday, November 17th, 2006 at 4:32 pm and is filed under Age and Aging, Health and healthcare, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.