Descriptive Analysis of Fall-Related Injuries Among Older Adults in Ontario
Abstract
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older adults in Canada. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of older adults who experienced fall-related injuries (FRIs) and the types of falls that caused them. We analyzed Ontario-wide secondary data from three databases (NACRS, DAD, RPDB) covering 2010-2014. Older adults (≥ 65 years) who visited emergency departments (ED) with FRIs were selected using ICD-10-CA codes for a fall and injury. Counts, measures of central tendency, and prevalence rates (crude, age- and sex-specific, age-standardized) were calculated. There were 304,610 (63.0% females) ED admissions (3,089 per 100,000 population) and 143,210 (61.2% females) hospitalizations (1,452 per 100,000 population). Rates for most injuries increased with age and were higher for females. Fractures and superficial injuries were the most common. Slips, trips, and stumbles were the most common fall types. Findings suggest that injury prevention should be targeted at females and the oldest old.