Unintentional Fall Deaths in Adults Age 65 and Older: United States, 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Adults age 65 and older have higher death rates from unintentional falls than other age groups, and falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in this population.

Methods: National Vital Statistics System underlying cause-of-death mortality data for 2003-2023 were used in this study of unintentional fall deaths in adults age 65 and older, by sex, age group, and race and Hispanic origin. Unintentional fall deaths were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death codes W00-W19. Crude rates (deaths per 100,000 population) were calculated. Pairwise comparisons were conducted using the z test ( p < 0.05), and trends were assessed using the Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 5.0.2).

Key findings: The U.S. rate of unintentional fall deaths for adults age 65 and older was 69.9 per 100,000 population in 2023, with rates varying by state. In 2023, the unintentional fall death rate for adults age 65 and older was higher for men (74.2) compared with women (66.3). Rates for both men and women increased with increasing age. Among adults age 85 and older, White non-Hispanic adults had the highest rate of unintentional fall deaths, and Black non-Hispanic adults had the lowest rate. For both men and women, rates of unintentional fall deaths increased between 2003 and 2023 for adults ages 65-74, 75-84, and 85 and older.