QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates* from Unintentional Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years,† by Race/Ethnicity — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2001–2016

Weekly / May 11, 2018 / 67(18);536

The figure above is a line graph showing that during 2001–2016, the age-adjusted death rate for unintentional falls for non-Hispanic white adults aged ≥65 approximately doubled, increasing from 34.9 deaths per 100,000 to 68.7. In that period, the death rate for Hispanic adults increased from 21.9 to 35.7, and the rate for non-Hispanic black adults rose from 16.8 to 27.1. Throughout the period, the death rate from falls for non- Hispanic white adults was 1.4 to 1.9 times the rate for Hispanic adults and 2.1 to 2.8 times the rate for non-Hispanic black adults.

* Deaths per 100,000 population, age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.

† As underlying cause of death, unintentional fall-related deaths are identified with the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes W00–W19.

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During 2001–2016, the age-adjusted death rate for unintentional falls for non-Hispanic white adults aged ≥65 approximately doubled, increasing from 34.9 deaths per 100,000 to 68.7. In that period, the death rate for Hispanic adults increased from 21.9 to 35.7, and the rate for non-Hispanic black adults rose from 16.8 to 27.1. Throughout the period, the death rate from falls for non-Hispanic white adults was 1.4 to 1.9 times the rate for Hispanic adults and 2.1 to 2.8 times the rate for non-Hispanic black adults.

Source: National Vital Statistics System, 2001–2016. https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.

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Reported by: Sibeso Joyner, MPH, sjoyner@cdc.gov, 301-458-4254; Deepthi Kandi, MS.

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For more information on this topic, CDC recommends the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/index.html.

Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates from Unintentional Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years, by Race/Ethnicity — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2001–2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:536. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6718a7 .