Falls and older Americans – an increasing problem

The US CDC has recently re-examined a decade of data about falls among older people – the leading cause of injury-related deaths among people aged ≥65 years. Deaths from falls among persons aged ≥65 years increased 31% from 2007 to 2016. The rate of deaths from falls increased in the United States by an average of 3.0% per year during 2007–2016. The annual rate increase was larger among adults aged ≥85 years (3.9% per year) than among those aged 65–74 years (1.8%) and 75–84 years (2.3%). The authors have identified that increased use of prescription medications are a likely contributing factor – it is possible that the increased prescribing of opioids may have been a factor. The report summary can be read here: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6718a1.htm?s_cid=mm6718a1&utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=b5df7c09fd-MR&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-b5df7c09fd-150676837