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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 5 June 2019

Deaths from falls among older Americans are on the rise

By LINDSEY TANNER Elizabeth Burns, a study co- lands and other European Pahor of the University of at home for a year, with
AP Medical Writer author and health scientist countries. Florida's aging and geriat- five sessions led by a physi-
CHICAGO (AP) — New at the U.S. Centers for Dis- Weight-bearing exercise ric research department, cal therapist. These include
research shows fatal falls ease Control and Preven- such as walking; balance who wrote an accompa- seated and standing leg
have nearly tripled in older tion's injury center. exercises; and resistance nying journal editorial. lifts, knee bends and back-
Americans in recent years, She noted that some medi- exercises to strengthen The program studied in the ward walking, plus walking
rising to more than 25,000 cations also make older muscles can also reduce second study involved ex- half an hour at least twice
deaths yearly. adults prone to falls. That risks for falls, said Dr. Marco ercises three times a week weekly.q

In this Nov. 6, 2015 file photo, an elderly couple walks down a
hall of a nursing home in Easton, Pa.
Associated Press

The findings highlight the includes prescription drugs
importance of fall preven- affecting balance. Burns
tion. A separate study bol- said research shows their
sters evidence that pro- use of certain psychiat-
grams focusing on improv- ric medications that can
ing muscle strength and cause drowsiness and
balance can help achieve vision problems has in-
that goal. creased substantially in re-
Both studies were published cent years.
Tuesday in the Journal of The new analysis included
the American Medical As- 16 years of U.S. vital statis-
sociation. tics data on adults aged 75.
Circumstances weren't in- Fatal falls increased from
cluded in the data, but 8,600 in 2000 to 25,190 in
traumatic brain injuries and 2016. Separate CDC data
hip fractures leading to show they climbed even
steep health declines are higher in 2017, to almost
among causes of death in 26,440 fatal falls in Ameri-
older adults who fall. cans aged 75 and older.
"Deaths from falls may have The rate in the study more
increased because older than doubled, from 51 fa-
people are living longer, liv- tal falls per 100,000 people
ing longer independently, to 122 falls per 100,000. The
and are living longer with results echo studies of fatal
chronic conditions," said fall trends in the Nether-