Deaths from falls among older Americans are on the rise

Circumstances weren’t included in the data, but traumatic brain injuries and hip fractures leading to steep health declines are among causes of death in older adults who fall.

CHICAGO – New research shows fatal falls have nearly tripled in older Americans in recent years, rising to more than 25,000 deaths yearly.

The findings highlight the importance of fall prevention. A separate study bolsters evidence that programs focusing on improving muscle strength and balance can help achieve that goal.

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Both studies were published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Circumstances weren’t included in the data, but traumatic brain injuries and hip fractures leading to steep health declines are among causes of death in older adults who fall.

“Deaths from falls may have increased because older people are living longer, living longer independently, and are living longer with chronic conditions,” said Elizabeth Burns, a study co-author and health scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s injury center.

She noted that some medications also make older adults prone to falls. That includes prescription drugs affecting balance. Burns said research shows their use of certain psychiatric medications that can cause drowsiness and vision problems has increased substantially in recent years.

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The new analysis included 16 years of U.S. vital statistics data on adults aged 75. Fatal falls increased from 8,600 in 2000 to 25,190 in 2016. Separate CDC data show they climbed even higher in 2017, to almost 26,440 fatal falls in Americans aged 75 and older.

The rate in the study more than doubled, from 51 fatal falls per 100,000 people to 122 falls per 100,000. The results echo studies of fatal fall trends in the Netherlands and other European countries.

Weight-bearing exercise such as walking; balance exercises; and resistance exercises to strengthen muscles can also reduce risks for falls, said Dr. Marco Pahor of the University of Florida’s aging and geriatric research department, who wrote an accompanying journal editorial.

The program studied in the second study involved exercises three times a week at home for a year, with five sessions led by a physical therapist. These include seated and standing leg lifts, knee bends and backward walking, plus walking half an hour at least twice weekly.

Participants were 344 Canadian adults aged 70 and older who had experienced a recent fall. Half were randomly assigned to the program plus usual care by a doctor; the remainder received only usual care.

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There were 236 falls during the study among the exercise group compared with 366 falls among the others.

Pahor said many older adults aren’t aware of programs that can help them. Many U.S. communities offer fall prevention exercises programs at senior centers, and the National Councilon Aging offers tips online.