What You Should Know about Falls

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 15:39

• Every year, more than 30% of U.S. adults 65 and older fall. Falls are the leading cause of death in this age group.
• Falls are also the most common cause of non-fatal injuries and hospital admissions in people 65 and older. (In 2005, 1.8 million people were treated in hospital ERs for non-fatal falls.)
• Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls.
• The most common fractures involve the spine, hip, pelvis, arm, hand, leg, and ankle.
• The rate of fall-related deaths among older adults has increased over the past decade.

Falls are expensive. In 2000, direct medical costs added up to $179 million for fatal falls and $19 billion for non-fatal fall-related injuries. And their impact reverberates far beyond dollar costs into our social fabric:

• Bruises, hip fractures, and head trauma-suffered by 20 to 30% of those who fall-limit mobility and make independent living difficult or impossible.

• Falls increase the risk of early death.

• Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. They respond by limiting their activities. Ironically, this response reduces their mobility and independence, decreases physical fitness, and increases the chance of falling.

So who among our older population is at risk?

Men are more likely than women to die from a fall, with a fatality rate that is 49% higher. Women, however, are more likely than men to incur a non-fatal injury, with a rate that is 67% higher, speaking to more frequent-and longer-hospital admissions.

Not surprisingly, the risk of serious injury from a fall increases with age. In 2001, the rates of injury for adults 85 and older was four to five times that of adults 65 to 74. Medication side-effects, low vision, and decreased muscle strength are likely culprits.

As to ethnicity, white women have a much greater rate of fall-related hip fractures than black women. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),whites and blacks experience almost the same rates of fatal falls. And non-Hispanics generally have a higher rate of fatal falls than Hispanics.

The good news is that this picture can change. Public heath officials are acknowledging falls as a serious problem. The CDC, for example, has developed fall prevention education programs. Partnering with the CDC Foundation and the MetLife Foundation, it is educating older adults and their families about fall prevention. American Bone Health is proud to be a leader in the grassroots effort to make this, and other fall-prevention information, available to our community. We suggest you check out the National Coalition on Aging's Falls Free Coalition for resources in your community.

To learn more about falls and their prevention, visit  http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html.