@article{ref1,
title="Fall-related mortality trends in older Japanese adults aged ≥65 years: a nationwide observational study",
journal="BMJ open",
year="2019",
author="Hagiya, Hideharu and Koyama, Toshihiro and Zamami, Yoshito and Tatebe, Yasuhisa and Funahashi, Tomoko and Shinomiya, Kazuaki and Kitamura, Yoshihisa and Hinotsu, Shiro and Sendo, Toshiaki and Rakugi, Hiromi and Kano, Mitsunobu R.",
volume="9",
number="12",
pages="e033462-e033462",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Fall-related mortality among older adults is a major public health issue, especially for ageing societies. This study aimed to investigate current trends in fall-related mortality in Japan using nationwide population-based data covering 1997-2016. <br><br>DESIGN: We analysed fall-related deaths among older persons aged ≥65 years using the data provided by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. <br><br>RESULTS: The crude and age-standardised mortality rates were calculated per 100 000 persons by stratifying by age (65-74, 75-84 and ≥85 years) and sex. To identify trend changes, a joinpoint regression model was applied by estimating change points and annual percentage change (APC). The total number of fall-related deaths in Japan increased from 5872 in 1997 to 8030 in 2016, of which 78.8% involved persons aged ≥65 years. The younger population (65-74 years) showed continuous and faster-decreasing trends for both men and women. Average APC among men aged ≥75 years did not decrease. Among middle-aged and older women (75-84 and ≥85 years) decreasing trends were observed. Furthermore, the age-adjusted mortality rate of men was approximately twice that of women, and it showed a faster decrease for women. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Although Japanese healthcare has shown improvement in preventing fall-related deaths over the last two decades, the crude mortality for those aged over 85 years remains high, indicating difficulty in reducing fall-related deaths in the super-aged population. Further investigations to uncover causal factors for falls in older populations are required.<br><br>© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2044-6055",
doi="10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033462",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033462"
}