Falls and hip fractures among older adults
Falls and hip fractures among older adults
How serious is the problem?
• In the United States, one of every three adults 65 years old or older falls each year.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among people ages 65 years and older.
• In 1998, about 9,600 people over the age of 65 died from fall-related injuries that occurred in the home.
• Of all fall deaths, more than 60% involve people who are 75 years old or older.
• Fall-related death rates are higher among men than among women and differ by race. White men have the highest death rate, followed by white women, black men, and black women.
• Older adults are hospitalized five times more often for fall-related injuries than for injuries from other causes.
• Of those who fall, 20% to 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that reduce mobility and independence and increase the risk of premature death.
What other health outcomes are linked with falls?
• Among older adults, falls are the most common cause of injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
• Falls account for 87% of all fractures for people 65 years and older. They are also the second-leading cause of spinal cord and brain injury among older adults.
• Each year in the United States, one person in 20 receives emergency department treatment because of a fall. Advanced age greatly increases the chance of a hospital admission following a fall.
• Among older adults, fractures are the most serious health outcomes associated with falls. About 3% of all falls cause fractures. The most common are fractures of the pelvis, hip, femur, vertebrae, humerus, hand, forearm, leg, and ankle.
What is the impact of hip fractures?
• Of all fractures from falls, hip fractures cause the greatest number of deaths and lead to the most severe health problems.
• In 1996, there were approximately 340,000 hospital admissions for hip fractures in the United States.
• Women sustain 75% to 80% of all hip fractures.
• People ages 85 or older are 10 to 15 times more likely to experience hip fractures than are people between the ages of 60 and 65.
• Most patients with hip fractures are hospitalized for about two weeks.
• Half of all older adults hospitalized for hip fractures cannot return home or live independently after their injuries.
• In 1991, Medicare costs for hip fractures were estimated to be $2.9 billion.
• Because the U.S. population is aging, the problem of hip fractures will likely increase substantially over the next four decades. By the year 2040, the number of hip fractures is expected to exceed 500,000 annually.
Where are people most likely to fall?
• For adults 65 years old or older, 60% of fatal falls happen at home, 30% occur in public places, and 10% occur in health care institutions.
What factors increase older adults’ risk of falling?
• Factors that contribute to falls include problems with gait and balance, neurological and musculoskeletal disabilities, psychoactive medication use, dementia, and visual impairment.
• Environmental hazards such as slippery surfaces, uneven floors, poor lighting, loose rugs, unstable furniture, and objects on floors may also play a role.
What can older adults do to reduce their risk of falling?
• Maintain a regular exercise program. Exercise improves strength, balance, and coordination.
• Take steps to make living areas safer. Remove tripping hazards and use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors. Have grab bars put in next to the toilet and in the tub or shower and have handrails put in on both sides of all stairs.
• Ask their doctor to review all of their medicines in order to reduce side effects and interactions.
• Have an eye doctor check their vision each year. Poor vision can increase the risk of falling.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.
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