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Epidemiology of Falls in Older Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Nancye May Peel
Nancye May Peel*
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Geriatric Medicine, The University of Queensland
*
*Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Nancye May Peel, Ph.D. Centre for Research in Geriatric Medicine The University of Queensland Level 2, Building 33 Princess Alexandra Hospital Ipswich Road Woolloongabba Queensland 4102 Australia (n.peel@uq.edu.au)
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Abstract

Worldwide, falls among older people are a public health concern because of their frequency and adverse consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, as well as their impact on health system services and costs. This epidemiological review outlines the public health burden of falls and fall-related injuries and the impact of population aging. The magnitude of the problem is described in terms of the classification of falls and measurement of outcomes, including fall incidence rates across settings, sociodemographic determinants, international trends, and costs of falls and fall-related injuries. Finally, public health approaches to minimize falls risk and consequent demand on health care resources are suggested.

Résumé

Les chutes chez les personnes agées sont une préoccupation de la santé publiquedans le monde entier en raison de leur fréquence et les conséquences néfastes en terms de morbidité, mortalité et de la qualité de vie, ainsi que leur impact sur les services et les coûts du système de santé. Cette étude épidémiologique décrit la charge de la santé publique de chutes et de blessures liées aux chutes et l’impact sur les chutes du vieillissement de la population. L’ampleur du problème est décrit en termes du classement des chutes et la mesure des résultats, y compris l’incidence des chutes et des blessures liées dans tous les milieux, les déterminants socio-démographiques, les tendance internationales, et le coût des chutes et des blessures liées aux chutes. Enfin, des approches de santé publique afin de minimiser les risques de chutes et la demande conséquente sur les ressources de soins de santé sont récommandés.

Keywords

l’épidémiologiechutesblessures liées aux chutespersonnes âgéesimpact sur la santé publiqueepidemiologyfallsfall-related injuriesseniorspublic health impact
Type
Special Section: Falls Prevention / Section spéciale: Prévention des chutes
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 7 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2011

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