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Abstract
To estimate the incidence and direct medical costs for fatal and non-fatal fall injuries
among US adults aged >or=65 years in 2000, for three treatment settings stratified
by age, sex, body region, and type of injury.
Incidence data came from the 2000 National Vital Statistics System, 2001 National
Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program, 2000 Health Care Utilization
Program National Inpatient Sample, and 1999 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Costs
for fatal falls came from Incidence and economic burden of injuries in the United
States; costs for non-fatal falls were based on claims from the 1998 and 1999 Medicare
fee-for-service 5% Standard Analytical Files. A case crossover approach was used to
compare the monthly costs before and after the fall.
In 2000, there were almost 10 300 fatal and 2.6 million medically treated non-fatal
fall related injuries. Direct medical costs totaled 0.2 billion dollars for fatal
and 19 billion dollars for non-fatal injuries. Of the non-fatal injury costs, 63%
(12 billion dollars ) were for hospitalizations, 21% (4 billion dollars) were for
emergency department visits, and 16% (3 billion dollars) were for treatment in outpatient
settings. Medical expenditures for women, who comprised 58% of the older adult population,
were 2-3 times higher than for men for all medical treatment settings. Fractures accounted
for just 35% of non-fatal injuries but 61% of costs.
Fall related injuries among older adults, especially among older women, are associated
with substantial economic costs. Implementing effective intervention strategies could
appreciably decrease the incidence and healthcare costs of these injuries.