Falls
About
Falls are the most common cause of injury deaths and hospitalisations. Injury from falls span across all age groups. Children are at risk of falling down stairs or from play equipment, while young people and adults are more likely to fall based on occupation (construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing). Falls contribute to a large health burden in older people in their homes, in residential care, and in hospital settings.
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In Australia, Men and boys are over-represented in fall-related hospitalisations and deaths, except among those over 65 years of age, where women are over-represented.
Australian Fall Statistics
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In 2017-2018, falls related injury resulted in:
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5,156 deaths and 222,725 people being hospitalised. (AIHW, 2021)
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6560 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being hospitalised (AIHW, 2021)
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38 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died (AIHW, 2021)
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Falls are the most common cause of injury deaths and hospitalisations (40% of all injury deaths and 42% of injury hospitalisations). (AIHW, 2020; AIHW, 2021)​​
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Among males, falls are the leading cause of all injury death accounting for 29% of injury deaths (AIHW, 2020)
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Among females, falls are the leading cause of injury death (56% of female injury deaths)
Aotearoa New Zealand Falls Statistics
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Falls are the most common cause of injury in older people (>65 years) and children (0-14 years).
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30 – 60% of people aged over 65 years fall each year and 10-20% of those falls result in injury, hospitalisation or death
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Falls account for 40% of ACC claims for those aged 65-69 years and 60% of all claims for the over 85 years old
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Falls related injury are the number one cause of child hospitalisations for the 0-14 years (Source: Safe Communities Foundation NZ)
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