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End of the spectacular decrease in fall-related mortality rate: men are catching up
Klaas A Hartholt1, Suzanne Polinder, Ed F van Beeck
1Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
American Journal of Public Health
|March 10, 2012
Summary
Fall-related deaths in older adults decreased significantly until the mid-1990s. However, mortality rates are now increasing in older men, leading to a rise in absolute numbers due to an aging population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Fall-related mortality is a significant concern in aging populations.
- Understanding temporal trends in fall deaths is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze time trends in fall-related mortality rates and numbers among older men and women.
- To identify changes in these trends over several decades.
Main Methods:
- Secular trend analysis of fall-related deaths in the Dutch population aged 65 years and older.
- Data spanning from 1969 to 2008 from national Official-Cause-of-Death-Statistics were utilized.
Main Results:
- Age-adjusted fall-related mortality rate decreased by 67% from 1969 to 2008.
- Mortality trends showed three distinct phases: rapid decrease until mid-1980s, followed by a flattening until mid-1990s.
- Since the mid-1990s, mortality rates stabilized for women but increased for men.
Conclusions:
- The decline in fall-related mortality ceased in the mid-1990s.
- Current trends show increasing mortality in older men, mirroring rates in women.
- Absolute numbers of fall-related deaths are rapidly increasing due to societal aging.
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