Trends in Nonfatal Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2012–2018

Abstract

Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged ≥65 years (older adults) in the United States. In 2018, an estimated 3 million emergency department visits, more than 950,000 hospitalizations or transfers to another facility (e.g., trauma center), and approximately 32,000 deaths resulted from fall-related injuries among older adults.* Deaths from falls are increasing, with the largest increases occurring among persons aged ≥85 years (1). To describe the percentages and rates of nonfatal falls by age group and demographic characteristics and trends in falls and fall-related injuries over time, data were analyzed from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and were compared with data from 2012 , 2014 , and 2016.5% of older adults reported falling at least once in the past year, and 10.2% reported an injury from a fall in the past year. The percentages of older adults reporting a fall increased between 2012 and 2016 and decreased slightly between 2016 and 2018. Falls are preventable, and health care providers can help their older patients reduce their risk for falls. Screening older patients for fall risk, assessing modifiable risk factors (e.g., use of psychoactive medications or poor gait and balance), and recommending interventions to reduce this risk (e.g., medication management or referral to physical therapy) can prevent older adult falls (https://www.cdc.gov/steadi).BRFSS is a landline and mobile telephone survey conducted annually in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia (DC), and U.S. territories, with a median response rate of 49.9% in 2018. The survey collects information on health-related behavioral risk factors and chronic conditions among noninstitutionalized U.S. adults aged ≥18 years. † Information on falls and fall-related injuries is recorded every 2 years from adults aged ≥45 years by asking "In the past 12 months, how many times have you fallen?" If the response was one or more times, the respondent was asked "How many of these falls caused an injury? By an injury, we mean the fall caused you to limit your regular activities for at least a day or to go see a doctor." Responses to each of these questions ranged from 0 to 76 falls or fall-related injuries. Rates were calculated as the average number of falls and fall-related injuries per 1,000 older adults. Both questions were dichotomized to calculate the percentage of older adults who reported having at least one fall or fall-related injury. * www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars. † https://www.cdc.gov/brfss.TABLE 1. Number of falls, percentages of adults reporting a fall, and rates* of self-reported falls in the past year among adults aged ≥65 years, by age group and selected characteristics (unweighted n = 142,834) -Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2018 Age group/ Characteristic No. † reporting a fall % (95% CI) § Rate* of falls (95% CI) Total (all aged ≥65 years)

Geriatrische Komplexbehandlung bei alterstraumatologischen Patienten

“…Ein Verlust der Mobilität ist mit einem erhöhten Mortalitätsrisiko, einer verminderten Lebensqualität und einem erhöhten Risiko für Stürze assoziiert [1,2]. Stürze und sturzbedingte Verletzungen sind im Alter häufig: Jeder dritte Senior über 65 Jahre und jeder zweite über 80-Jährige erleidet mindestens einen Sturz pro Jahr, rund 10 % der Stürze verursachen eine Verletzung [3]. Wirbelkörper-, Becken-und Hüftfrakturen sind mit Immobilisation und erhöhtem Risiko für eine dauerhafte Einschränkung der Mobilität und Autonomieverlust assoziiert [4].…”

Multiphase Identification Algorithm for Fall Recording Systems Using a Single Wearable Inertial Sensor

“…Falls are one of the major problems leading to physical injuries, functional decline, increased healthcare costs, and even death for elders [ 1 ]. In the United States (2018), 27.5% of adults aged more than 65 years reported at least one fall in the past year, and a percentage of women reported at least one fall or fall-related injury has higher than did men [ 2 ]. Furthermore, the elders may develop anxiety, depression, and fear of repeated falling after fall events occur, which significantly influences the ability to live independently, social isolation, and the quality of life [ 3 ].…”

National rates of non-fatal emergency department visits and hospitalisations due to fall-related injuries in older adults 2010–2014 and 2016: transitioning from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM

“…Over one-quarter of older adults (aged 65+) fall each year and about 1 in 10 report a fall injury requiring medical attention or restricted activity for at least a day. 1 Falls account for approximately 60% of injury-related emergency department (ED) visits in older adults each year. 2 Many of these injuries lead to loss of function and prolonged use of healthcare services.…”

“…2 Many of these injuries lead to loss of function and prolonged use of healthcare services. 1 3 Quantifying fall injuries among older adults over time is important to understanding the burden on the healthcare system.…”