Geriatric falls: an enormous economic burden compared to firearms

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Fatal firearm injury is a significant public health issue.
• Fatal falls present a growing challenge, particularly with an aging population.
• This study compares the costs associated with fatal falls and firearm injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare the medical and combined costs of fatal firearm injuries and fatal falls over a five-year period.
• To analyze trends in these costs across different age groups.
• To understand the socioeconomic implications of these injury types.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS).
• Analyzed fatal firearm and fall data for individuals aged 15-85 years.
• Examined medical costs and combined costs (medical costs + value of statistical life).

Main Results:

• Fatal falls demonstrated significantly higher medical costs across all age groups from 2015-2020.
• The combined cost of fatal falls exceeded that of fatal firearm injuries after 2019, particularly in the 45-85+ age range.
• A notable increase in the proportion of fatal falls was observed from 2015-2020, with a steeper rise after 2019, especially in individuals over 65.

Conclusions:

• Geriatric fatal falls carry substantially higher medical costs than fatal firearm injuries.
• The increasing combined cost of fatal falls highlights the growing socioeconomic burden associated with an aging demographic.
• Interventions to mitigate fall-related injuries in the elderly are crucial for public health and economic reasons.