ELDERLY FALLS OFTEN LEAD TO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

Volume 29, Issue 519 July 7, 2008

Matthew Gever

Every year, about one in three seniors experiences a fall, often because of medication side effects, chronic health problems and poor vision. The results of those accidents are often serious: unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and emergency department visits for U.S. adults aged 65 and older, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC found that traumatic brain injuries resulting from falls caused nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005, the most recent year for which data was available. Those who survive often end up with long-term cognitive, emotional, and/or functional impairments. With the aging of the U.S. population, and without intervention, the number of these injuries will likely increase.

To help combat this problem, the CDC reccomends that seniors be encouraged to exercise, have their medications reviewed, their vision checked and their homes made safer. The CDC also has developed three new resources to help prevent falls and traumatic brain injuries among older adults. The publications and related resources (e.g., Podcasts, factsheets) are available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/PreventingFalls/ at no cost. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/injury.

Fall-related Traumatic Brain Injury Deaths and Non-fatal Hospitalizations

Fall-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Deaths and Non-Fatal Hospitalizations

Source: KE Thomas, MPH, JA Stevens, PhD, K Sarmiento, MPH, MM Wald, MPH, Fall-related traumatic brain injury deaths and hospitalizations among older adults—United States, 2005, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.