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 Among all adults 75 and older, mortality from falls climbed 5.1
percent from 2000 to 2016, researchers report in JAMA. Death rates
from falls rose the most - 6.4 percent - among people 95 and up.
"People can die after a fall for many reasons, which may include
head trauma, internal bleeding, and complications of a bone
fracture," said study co-author Dr. Robin Lee of the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
"The latter may lead to hospitalization, immobility in bed, and
respiratory or other infections, which can be fatal," Lee said by
email.
Falls are the leading cause of both traumatic brain injury and hip
fractures, and more than half of hip fractures prove fatal within
one year, Lee said.
Many older adults may also be taking medications with side effects
that can increase the risk of falling such as vision impairment,
confusion, and sleepiness, Lee added.
The "oldest old" may be most at risk, the study findings suggest.
In 2016, there were roughly 591 deaths from falls for every 100,000
people 95 and older, compared with 42 for every 100,000 people ages
75 to 79.
Overall, the absolute number of deaths from falls among U.S. adults
aged 75 or older rose from 8,613 in 2000 to 25,189 in 2016.
The risk of fatal falls rose more sharply for women, with the rate
climbing from 46.3 to 105.9 per 100,000 women, whereas it rose from
60.7 to 116.4 per 100,000 men.
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The study wasn't designed to prove whether or how certain factors
cause falls to be fatal.
One limitation of the study is that it was based on information from
the U.S. Census Bureau, which might undercount people 65 and older,
resulting in an overestimation of death rates, the study authors
note.
The researchers also couldn't tell whether people in the study fell
more than once, or whether they had fall-related fractures, said Dr.
Marco Pahor, author of an accompanying editorial and director of the
Institute on Aging at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
"Falls can be prevented," Pahor said by email.
"Several steps can be taken to minimize the risks of falling and
related injuries, including weight bearing exercises, such as
walking, balance exercises, resistance exercises to strengthen
muscles, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, review of
medications that may cause (low blood pressure) or loss of balance,
correction of vision impairments, correction of foot problems or
unsafe footwear, and correction of any home safety issues," Pahor
advised.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/31b3WD4 JAMA, online June 4, 2019.
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