Introduction
This study (1) provides annual population estimates of fatal and nonfatal injury incidence
rates for older adults for 2004–2017; (2) determines if trends differ by whether the
injury was fatal or nonfatal, a fall or nonfall injury, and for nonfatal injuries,
minor or serious; and (3) investigates whether trends vary by age, sex, and race.
Methods
This study used National Vital Statistics System and National Health Interview Survey
data covering the population of adults aged ≥65 years for 2004–2017. Fatal injury
incidence rates were estimated using negative binomial models; nonfatal injury incidence
rates were estimated using Poisson models. All models compared overall risk and trend
differences by year, age, sex, and race, and interactions between year and age, sex,
and race. All analyses were conducted in 2019.
Results
Fatal injury incidence was stable over time, but this apparent stability masked a
35% increase in fatal falls and a 17% decrease in fatal nonfall injuries. Increases
in fall-related deaths were concentrated among those aged ≥85 years, men, and white
older adults. The trend in fatal falls accelerated over time for those aged ≥85 years
and white older adults. By contrast, there was a large increase in nonfatal injury
incidence, occurring across all injury types. Nonfatal injury risk grew with age and
was higher for women and white older adults, but trends did not vary by age, sex,
or race.
Conclusions
Large increases in fatal and nonfatal injuries underscore the urgency of national
implementation of fall prevention programs and expanding fall prevention efforts to
more general injury prevention.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: March 19, 2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
