Trends in hospitalization for fall-related injury among older adults in the United States, 1988-2005.

The aim of the present study was to analyze trends in hospitalizations for fall-related injury among older adults in the United States from 1988 to 2005. The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) was used to generate injury hospitalization estimates based on the recommendations of the State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association. Hospital- ization rates were standardized to the year 2000 U.S. population to account for changes in the age distribution of the population over time. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate annual percentage changes in hospitalization rates and to identify points where a statistically significant change occurred over time. Hospitalization rates increased across all age groups (all p for trend <0.001). After age-adjustment, hospitalization rates among women increased by 5.9% (95% CI, 3.7 to 8.2) per year from 304.2 in 1988 to 729.9 per 100,000 persons in 2005. Similarly, age-adjusted rates among men increased at an annual rate of 5.8% (95% CI, 3.5 to 8.2) from 162.7 in 1988 to 377.4 per 100,000 persons in 2005. However, joinpoint regression analysis identified a change in the slope around 1997 and 1998 in men and women, respectively. Thereafter, hospitalization rates in men leveled off at an annual rate of 0.5% (95% CI, -3.6 to 4.7) from 1997 to 2005. In women, there was a non-significant trend toward decreasing rates by -1.3% (95% CI, -4.6 to 2.2) per year between 1998 and 2005. Hospitalization rates for fall-related injury clearly increased among older adults in the United States during the study period. The aging of the population is likely to increase the number of hospitalizations for severe fall-related injuries.