Injuries in Elderly

Injuries in Elderly

Introsuction

Falls are a common occurrence among the population, but especially in the elderly where they are a leading cause of injury.(1) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than one-third of adults age 65 and older fall each year.(2) and (3) Half of the elderly people who fall do so repeatedly. This percentage is higher for those individuals living in institutions.(4 )The CDC also reports that in 2002 nearly 13,000 individuals died from fall-related injuries, and that more than 60% of them were age 75 and older.(5) Nearly $20 billion dollars of direct medical costs are associated with fatal and non-fatal falls.(6) Furthermore, the direct costs of injurious falls have been found to be greater than previously estimated. Fall-related emergency room visits resulted in an estimated 860,000 hospitalizations, 62% of which involved individuals aged 65 years and older and costing an estimated $2.45 billion per year.(7 )Additional CDC information reveals that of all fall-related fractures, hip fractures cause the greatest number of deaths and lead to the most severe health problems and reduced quality of life.(8) and (9) fracture outcomes: quality of life and functional status in older adults living in the community, Falls occurring in the elderly are clearly life-disrupting events that can result in permanent disability, possible institutionalization or even death.(10) Falls in the elderly can be prevented or at least become less frequent through an understanding of risk factors, evaluation of balance and the initiation of a fall-prevention exercise program.

Discussion

The number of older persons with fall-induced injuries is increasing at a rate that cannot be explained by demographic changes alone and strong preventative measures should be adopted to control the increasing burden of these injuries. While falls are prevalent, dangerous, and costly, they are not a normal part of aging. Prevention strategies can be developed once the risk factors are known and understood (Table 1). There are a considerable number of risk factors involved with the possibility of a fall. (11) In addition to the individual's age there are other current health considerations to be noted. The CDC highlights several examples of health-related factors in falls including Parkinson's disease, history of stroke, arthritis, cognitive impairment, and visual impairments.(12), (13) and (14) The presence of one or more of these factors considerably increases the possibility of a fall, especially in cases of advanced age. Additional factors in the prevalence of ...