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. 2019 Jun;9(1):010603.
doi: 10.7189/jogh.09.010603.

Unintentional falls mortality in China, 2006-2016

Peixia Cheng  1   2 , Lijun Wang  3   2 , Peishan Ning  1 , Peng Yin  3 , David C Schwebel  4 , Jiangmei Liu  3 , Jinlei Qi  3 , Guoqing Hu  1   5 , Maigeng Zhou  3   5
Affiliations

Unintentional falls mortality in China, 2006-2016

Peixia Cheng et al. J Glob Health. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Background: To examine trends in unintentional falls mortality from 2006 to 2016 in China by location (urban/rural), sex, age group and mechanism.

Methods: Mortality data were retrieved from the National Disease Surveillance Points system (DSPs) of China, a nationally representative data source. Percent change in mortality between 2006 and 2016 was calculated as "mortality rate ratio - 1" based on a negative binomial regression model.

Results: The crude unintentional falls mortality was 9.55 per 100 000 population in 2016. From 2006 to 2016, the age-adjusted unintentional falls mortality increased by 5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1%-9%), rising from 7.65 to 8.03 per 100 000 population. Males, rural residents and older age groups consistently had higher falls mortality rates than females, urban residents and younger age groups. Falls on the same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling (W01) was the most common mechanisms of falls mortality, accounting for 29% of total mortality.

Conclusions: Unintentional falls continued to be a major cause of death in China from 2006 to 2016. Empirically-supported interventions should be implemented to reduce unintentional falls mortality.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors completed the Unified Competing Interest form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available upon request from the corresponding author), and declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mortality rates from unintentional falls by location (urban/rural), sex, age group and mechanism in China, 2006-2016. By location (panel A), by sex (panel B), by age group (panel C), by mechanism (panel D). Mortality rates in panels A, B and D were age-standardized based on the population of China in 2010. FSLS – falls on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling (W01), FRF – furniture related falls (W06-W08), OFSL – other falls on same level (W00, W02-W05, W09 and W18), FSS – falls on and from stairs and steps (W10), FBS – falls from, out of or through building or structure (W13), OFOL – other falls from one level to another (W11, W12 and W14-W17), UF – unspecified falls (W19).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mortality rates from unintentional falls by urban/rural, sex and mechanism in China, 2006-2016. Urban (panel A), rural (panel B), male (panel C), female (panel D). Mortality rates were age-standardized based on the population of China in 2010. FSLS – falls on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling (W01), FRF – furniture related falls (W06-W08), OFSL – other falls on same level (W00, W02-W05, W09 and W18), FSS – falls on and from stairs and steps (W10), FBS – falls from, out of or through building or structure (W13), OFOL – other falls from one level to another (W11, W12 and W14-W17), UF – unspecified falls (W19).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mortality rates from unintentional falls by age group and mechanism in China, 2006-2016. FSLS – falls on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling (W01), FRF – furniture related falls (W06-W08), OFSL – other falls on same level (W00, W02-W05, W09 and W18), FSS – falls on and from stairs and steps (W10), FBS – falls from, out of or through building or structure (W13), OFOL – other falls from one level to another (W11, W12 and W14-W17), UF – unspecified falls (W19).
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