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. 2015 Sep;35(7):99-108.
doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.35.7.01.

Fall-related injuries among Canadian seniors, 2005-2013: an analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey

[Article in English, French]
M T Do  1 , V C Chang  2 , N Kuran  3 , W Thompson  1
Affiliations

Fall-related injuries among Canadian seniors, 2005-2013: an analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey

[Article in English, French]
M T Do et al. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2015 Sep.

Abstract
in English, French

Introduction: We describe the epidemiology and trends of fall-related injuries among Canadian seniors aged 65 years and older by sex and age, as well as the circumstances and consequences of their injuries.

Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from the 2005, 2009/2010 and 2013 samples of the Canadian Community Health Survey to calculate the number and rates of fall-related injuries for each survey year. Where possible, we combined data from two or more samples to estimate the proportion of fall-related injuries by type of injury, part of body injured, type of activity and type of treatment.

Results: The rate of fall-related injuries among seniors increased from 49.4 to 58.8 per 1000 population between 2005 and 2013, during which the number of fall-related injuries increased by 54% overall. Women had consistently higher rates than men across all survey years, while rates increased with advancing age. The upward trend in fall-related injury rates was more prominent among women and younger age groups. The most common type of injury was broken or fractured bones (37%), and the shoulder or upper arm (16%) was the most commonly injured body part. Many fall-related injuries occurred while walking on a surface other than snow or ice (45%). Over 70% of seniors seeking treatment for their injuries visited a hospital emergency department.

Conclusion: Given the increase in both the number and rates of fall-related injuries over time, there is a need to continue monitoring trends and injury patterns associated with falls.

Titre: Blessures liées à une chute chez les aînés canadiens entre 2005 et 2013 : une analyse de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes.

Introduction: Nous décrivons l’épidémiologie et les tendances des blessures liées à une chute chez les aînés canadiens de 65 ans et plus selon le sexe et l’âge, ainsi que les circonstances et les conséquences de ces blessures.

Méthodologie: Nous avons utilisé des données représentatives tirées des échantillons de 2005, de 2009-2010 et de 2013 de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes afin de calculer le nombre et les taux de blessures liées à une chute pour chaque année d’enquête. Nous avons combiné, dans la mesure du possible, les données d’au moins deux échantillons afin d’estimer la proportion de blessures liées à une chute par type de blessure, partie du corps affectée, type d’activité et type de traitement.

Résultats: Le taux de blessures liées à une chute chez les aînés est passé de 49,4 à 58,8 pour 1 000 personnes entre 2005 et 2013, période durant laquelle le nombre de blessures liées à une chute a de façon générale augmenté de 54 %. Les femmes ont présenté des taux plus élevés que les hommes pour toutes les années d’enquête, ces taux augmentant avec l’âge. La tendance à la hausse dans les taux de blessures liées à une chute était plus marquée chez les femmes et les plus jeunes. Les cassures et les fractures (37 %) ont été les blessures les plus courantes, et l’épaule et le bras (16 %) ont été les parties du corps les plus couramment affectées. Plusieurs blessures liées à une chute se sont produites alors que la personne marchait sur une surface non enneigée ou glacée (45 %). Plus de 70 % des aînés qui ont cherché à obtenir des soins médicaux pour leur blessure se sont rendus au service d’urgence d’un hôpital.

Conclusion: Compte tenu de l’augmentation du nombre et des taux de blessures liées à une chute au fil du temps, la surveillance des tendances et des profils de ces dernières demeure nécessaire.

Keywords: Canada; falls; seniors; unintentional injuries.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1. Numbers and rates of fall-related injuries, ≥ 65 years, Canada, CCHS 2005, 2009/2010, 2013
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2005, 2009/2010, 2013), Statistics Canada. Abbreviation: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey. Notes: Numbers and rates (per 1000 population) of fall-related injuries were calculated using sampling weights. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals of rates of fall-related injuries, computed using the bootstrap technique. * Significantly different from the 2005 estimate (p < .05) based on the z-test for proportions.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2. Rates of fall-related injuries by sex, ≥ 65 years, Canada, CCHS 2005, 2009/2010, 2013
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2005, 2009/2010, 2013), Statistics Canada. Abbreviation: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey. Notes: Rates of fall-related injuries were calculated per 1000 population using sampling weights. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals computed using the bootstrap technique. * Significantly different from the 2005 estimate (p < .05) based on the z-test for proportions.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3. Rates of fall-related injuries by age group, ≥ 65 years, Canada, CCHS 2005, 2009/2010, 2013
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2005, 2009/2010, 2013), Statistics Canada. Abbreviation: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey. Notes: Rates of fall-related injuries were calculated per 1000 population using sampling weights. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals computed using the bootstrap technique. E Estimates for the 2009/2010 and 2013 samples are associated with high sampling variability (i.e. coefficient of variation is between 16.6% and 33.3%) – interpret with caution. * Significantly different from the 2005 estimate (p < .05) based on the z-test for proportions.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4. Proportion of fall-related injuries by type of injury, ≥ 65 years, Canada, CCHS 2005, 2009/2010, 2013
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2005, 2009/2010 and 2013 combined), Statistics Canada. Abbreviation: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey. Note: There were slight wording changes for some categories in the 2009/2010 and 2013 questionnaires compared to 2005 (see below), but no meaningful differences were observed in the proportions of these categories across survey years. a Stated as "sprain or strain” in 2005 and "sprain or strain (including torn ligaments and muscles)” in 2009/2010 and 2013. b Stated as "scrape, bruise, blister” in 2005 and "scrape(s), bruise(s), blister(s) (including multiple minor injuries)” in 2009/2010 and 2013. c Stated as "multiple injuries” in 2005 and "multiple serious injuries (excluding multiple minor injuries)” in 2009/2010 and 2013. E Estimate is associated with high sampling variability (i.e. coefficient of variation is between 16.6% and 33.3%) – interpret with caution.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5. Proportion of fall-related injuries by part of body injured, ≥ 65 years, Canada, CCHS 2005, 2009/2010, 2013
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2005, 2009/2010 and 2013 combined), Statistics Canada. Abbreviation: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey. Note: Wording for some categories in the 2009/2010 and 2013 questionnaires changed from 2005 (see below), but no meaningful differences were observed in the proportions of these categories across survey years. a Stated as "head (excluding eyes)” in 2005 and "head (including facial bones)” in 2009/2010 and 2013. b Stated as "eyes” in 2005 and "eyes (excluding fracture of facial bones around the eye)” in 2009/2010 and 2013. E Estimate is associated with high sampling variability (i.e. coefficient of variation is between 16.6% and 33.3%) – interpret with caution.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6. Proportion of fall-related injuries by type of activity, ≥ 65 years, Canada, CCHS 2009/2010, 2013
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey (2009/2010 and 2013 combined), Statistics Canada. Abbreviation: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey. Note: Data from the 2005 CCHS sample were not included in the analysis due to differences in the categorization of activity types compared to the 2009/2010 and 2013 surveys. a Examples include fainting, weakness, dizziness, hip/knee giving out and seizure. b Includes skating, skiing and snowboarding.
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