Fall-induced injuries and deaths among older adults

Context Although various fall-induced injuries and deaths among older adult s are increasing, little is known about the epidemiology of these events. Objective To determine the trends in the number and incidence of fall-induc ed injuries and deaths of older adults in a well-defined white population. Design and Setting Secular trend analysis of the population of Finland, usi ng the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register and the Official Cause- of-Death Statistics of Finland. Participants All persons aged 50 years or older who were admitted to hospit als in Finland for primary treatment of a first fall-induced injury from th e years of 1970 to 1995, and for com parison, all fall-induced deaths in th e same age group from the years 1971 to 1995. Main Outcome Measure The number and the age-specific and age-adjusted incid ence rate (per 100 000 persons) of fall-induced injuries and deaths in each year of the study. Results For the study period, both the total and population-adjusted number (per 100 000 persons) of Finns aged 50 years or older with fall-induced in jury increased substantially. Total fall-induced injuries increased from 56 22 in 1970 to 21 574 in 1995, a 284% increase, and the rate increased from 494 to 1398 per 100 000 persons, a 183% increase. The age-adjusted incidenc e also increased in both women (from 648 in 1970 to 1469 in 1995, a 127% in crease) and men (from 434 in 1970 to 972 in 1995, a 124% increase), Moreove r, the number of deaths due to falls in the overall population increased fr om 441 in 1971 to 793 in 1995, an 80% increase, and the rate increased from 38 in 1971 to 51 in 1995, a 34% increase. However, after age adjustment th e incidence of fall-induced death did not show a clear upward trend, Conclusions In a well-defined white population, the number of older persons with fall-induced injuries is increasing at a rate that cannot be explaine d simply by demographic changes. Preventive measures should be adopted to c ontrol the increasing burden of these injuries. Fortunately, the age-adjust ed incidence of the fall-induced deaths shows no increasing trend over time .