The Facts on Falls

The Facts on Falls 23,534 Falls & The Healthcare System In certain age groups, less than one year, and 65 and older, falls surpass motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of non-fatal injuries. Most non-fatal falls occur in ages 75 and older, and 45 to 64. In 2003, there were 23,534 reported non- fatal injuries due to falls in Texas. Falls are the second leading cause of non-fatal injuries in Texas. The burden of falls is further exacerbated by the fact that most people survive, though they seek treatment and are hospitalized, placing a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. As the elderly population increases so will the number of injuries due to falls. Thus, we can expect the burden of injuries due to falls to increase in the coming decades. Hispanic White men have the highest fall-related death rates, followed by non-Hispanic White women, African- American men, and African-American women. 2003 Nonfatal Falls By Age & Gender 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 <1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75+ Male Female Fall-Related Hospitalizations By Age Group: Texas 2003 Risk Factors For Falls 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 Becoming older. 1000 Hospitalizations <1 I 1-4 5-14 15-24 I 25-44 I 45-64 For most age groups, being male is a risk factor for falls. However, at older ages, specifically 65 years and older, being female becomes a risk factor. 65-74 75+ Fall-Related Injuries By Age Group: Texas 2003 <1 (1%) 1-4 (6%) 5-14 (12%) 15-24 (6%) 25-44 (15%) 45-64 (20%) 65-74 (11%) 75+ (29%) For more information on falls, olease visit http://Waco.ZDfirm.com. ZD Dara source: CDC.gov. Zinda & Davis