Self-Reported Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥65 Years—United States, 2006

Stevens presents the results of a 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor System survey on self-reported falls and fall-related injuries among older adults in the US. Results indicate that approximately 5.8 million persons aged ≥65 years, or 15.9% of all US adults in that age group, fell at least once during the preceding 3 months, and 1.8 million (31.3%) of those who fell sustained an injury that resulted in a doctor visit or restricted activity for at least 1 day. The percentages of women and men who fell during the preceding 3 months were similar (16.4% versus 15.2%, respectively), but women reported significantly more fall-related injuries than men (35.7% versus 24.6%, respectively). A CDC editorial note is included.