Fall-induced Injuries and Deaths among Older Adults in Finland since 1970

The epidemiological time series analysis is constantly being updated with reliable data regarding the number, incidence, trends, causes, risk factors, consequences and costs of fall-related injuries and deaths of Finnish older adults.

Background 

Free time accidents and injuries are a significant problem to public health and national economy. Fall-induced fractures and deaths of older adults account for a significant portion of these injuries.

Hospital discharge register data has been collected in Finland for fall-related injuries, such as bone fractures, since 1970. The data for fall-related deaths have been collected from the National Official Cause of Death Statistics since 1971.

The number of fall-related injuries elderly people has increased fivefold over the past thirty years and the number of fall-related deaths has doubled.

Aims 

To produce regularly updated, reliable data regarding the number, incidence, trends, causes, risk factors, consequences and costs of fall-related injuries and deaths among Finnish older adults.

Material 

The National Official Causes of Death Statistics and the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register (HILMO). 

Contact 

Pekka Kannus 
MD, PhD, Chief Physician 
pekka.kannus(a)ukkinstituutti.fi 

Publications 

Kannus P, Niemi S, Sievänen H, Parkkari J. Continuous decline in incidence of distal humeral fracture of older women in Finland. Aging Clin Exp Res 2017;29:467-471.

Kannus P, Parkkari J, Niemi S, Sievänen H. Low-trauma knee fractures in older Finnish women between 1970 and 2013. Aging Clin Exp Res 2016;28:665-668.

Kannus P, Niemi , Parkkari J, Sievänen H. Rising incidence of fall-induced maxillofacial injuries among older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 2016;28:1127-1131.

Korhonen N. Fall-induced injuries and deaths among older Finns between 1970 and 2012. Tampere: University of Tampere, 2014. Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1998. Academic dissertation.

Korhonen N, Niemi S, Parkkari J, Sievänen H, Kannus P. Incidence of Fall-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Older Finnish Adults Between 1970 and 2011. JAMA 2013;309(18):1891-1892

For all publications of this research, see the Finnish description. To find the list of publications “Julkaisuja”, scroll the page down. To open the publication links, click “Lue lisaa” and “Lue julkaisu”.