Self-Reported Falls and Fall Injuries, MMWR, March 7, 2008

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for persons aged >65 years. National estimates for rates of fatal falls and fall-related injuries treated in emergency departments have been published previously; however, this report presents the first national estimates of the number and proportion of persons experiencing fall-related injuries associated with either restricted activity or doctor visits. The results in this study suggest that in 2006, approximately 1.8 million persons aged >65 years (nearly 5% of all persons in that age group) sustained some type of recent fall-related injury.