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Fall-related mortality in Spain: trends and disparities by age and gender
  1. Lucía Cayuela1,
  2. Cristina García-Muñoz2,3,
  3. Victoria Achaval1,
  4. Manuel Ortega Calvo4,
  5. Aurelio Cayuela5
  1. 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Severo Ochoa, Leganes, Spain
  2. 2 Ciencias de la Salud y Biomédicas, Universidad Loyola Andalucia, Sevilla, Spain
  3. 3 CTS 1110: Understanding Movement and Self in HealthFrom Science (UMSS) Research Group, Seville, Spain
  4. 4 Las Palmeritas Health Facilities, Seville Primary Healthcare District, Seville, Spain
  5. 5 Unit of Public Health, Prevention and Health Promotion. South Seville Health Management Area, Seville, Spain
  1. Correspondence to Dr Cristina García-Muñoz; ccriss.g{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Background Falls are a significant public health concern, particularly among older adults. This study aimed to analyse trends in fall-related mortality in Spain from 1999 to 2022, focusing on age and gender disparities.

Methods Using a longitudinal ecological study, we analysed trends in fall mortality. Using data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) were calculated for different age groups and genders. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to identify significant trends and calculate annual percentage changes in mortality rates.

Results Fall deaths in Spain surged from 1999 to 2022, with a significant increase in mortality rates. This increase was more pronounced among men than women, and the older adults aged 65 and older accounted for most fall-related deaths. Overall, ASMRs increased with age and were consistently higher for men across all age groups. Men experienced a 1.9% annual increase in ASMRs, with a significant rise starting in 2009. Women’s ASMRs increased by 1.8% per year, with a more pronounced increase from 2007 to 2013 before slowing. Among those aged 65 and over, rates increased significantly across most age groups, with the ASMR for men rising by 2.7% per year and for women by 2%.

Conclusions Fall mortality in Spain has significantly increased, particularly among older adults and men. The findings underscore the need for targeted fall prevention strategies, especially for high-risk groups. Future interventions should address gender-specific risks and emerging issues in middle-aged adults to effectively reduce fall-related mortality across all age groups.

  • Fall
  • Mortality
  • Older People

Data availability statement

Data are available in a public, open access repository. The data for this study are publicly available through the https://www.ine.es/.

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Data availability statement

Data are available in a public, open access repository. The data for this study are publicly available through the https://www.ine.es/.

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Footnotes

  • Contributors CG-M is the guarantor in the contributorship statement, as the corresponding author. All authors made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the study, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data. They were involved in drafting and critically revising the manuscript for significant intellectual content. All authors approved the final version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that any questions regarding the accuracy or integrity of any part are thoroughly investigated and resolved.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.