Summary
Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among U.S. adults aged 65 years and older. Using data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the 2021 National Vital Statistics System, this report examined state, regional, and sex-based differences in nonfatal and fatal falls among older adults. In 2020, an estimated 14 million older adults (27.6%) reported at least one fall in the previous year, with a higher prevalence among women (28.9%) than men (26.1%). The percentage reporting a fall varied widely by state, ranging from 19.9% in Illinois to 38.0% in Alaska.
In 2021, 38,742 older adults died from unintentional falls, corresponding to a death rate of 78.0 per 100,000 population. Fall-related death rates were higher among men (91.4 per 100,000) than women (68.3 per 100,000) and varied substantially across states, from 30.7 per 100,000 in Alabama to 176.5 per 100,000 in Wisconsin. These findings highlight significant demographic and geographic disparities in fall risk and outcomes. To address this burden, CDC’s STEADI initiative recommends routine fall-risk screening and implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies in clinical care for older adults.
PMID: 37651272
DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a1
Abstract
In the United States, unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death among adults aged ≥65 years (older adults). Patterns of nonfatal and fatal falls differ by sex and state. To describe this variation, data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and 2021 National Vital Statistics System were used to ascertain the percentage of older adults who reported falling during the previous year and unintentional fall-related death rates among older adults. Measures were stratified by demographic characteristics, U.S. Census Bureau region, and state. In 2020, 14 million (27.6%) older adults reported falling during the previous year. The percentage of women who reported falling (28.9%) was higher than that among men (26.1%). The percentage of older adults who reported falling ranged from 19.9% (Illinois) to 38.0% (Alaska). In 2021, 38,742 (78.0 per 100,000 population) older adults died as the result of unintentional falls. The unintentional fall-related death rate was higher among men (91.4 per 100,000) than among women (68.3). The fall-related death rate among older adults ranged from 30.7 per 100,000 (Alabama) to 176.5 (Wisconsin). CDC's Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) initiative recommends that health care providers screen and assess older adults for fall risk and intervene using effective preventive strategies.
Kakara R, Bergen G, Burns E, Stevens M. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years - United States, 2020-2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023 Sep 1;72(35):938-943. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a1. PMID: 37651272.