M Gagné1, Y Robitaille, S Jean, P-A Perron. 1. Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Quebec, Canada. mathieu.gagne@inspq.qc.ca
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Our purpose was to evaluate changes in fall-related mortality in adults aged 65 years and over in Quebec and to propose a case definition based on all the causes entered on Return of Death forms. METHODS: The analysis covers deaths between 1981 and 2009 recorded in the Quebec vital statistics data. RESULTS: While the number of fall-related deaths increased between 1981 and 2009, the adjusted falls-related mortality rate remained relatively stable. Since the early 2000s, this stability has masked opposing trends. The mortality rate associated with certified falls (W00-W19) has increased while the rate for presumed falls (exposure to an unspecified factor causing a fracture) has decreased. CONCLUSION: For fall surveillance, analyses using indicators from the vital statistics data should include both certified falls and presumed falls. In addition, a possible shift in the coding of fall-related deaths toward secondary causes should be taken into account.
INTRODUCTION: Our purpose was to evaluate changes in fall-related mortality in adults aged 65 years and over in Quebec and to propose a case definition based on all the causes entered on Return of Death forms. METHODS: The analysis covers deaths between 1981 and 2009 recorded in the Quebec vital statistics data. RESULTS: While the number of fall-related deaths increased between 1981 and 2009, the adjusted falls-related mortality rate remained relatively stable. Since the early 2000s, this stability has masked opposing trends. The mortality rate associated with certified falls (W00-W19) has increased while the rate for presumed falls (exposure to an unspecified factor causing a fracture) has decreased. CONCLUSION: For fall surveillance, analyses using indicators from the vital statistics data should include both certified falls and presumed falls. In addition, a possible shift in the coding of fall-related deaths toward secondary causes should be taken into account.