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OHSU experts caution older adults on increasing rates of dangerous falls

Ground-level falls among older adults can be reduced with awareness, simple measures, OHSU experts say
An elderly man wears a fall risk bracelet while at a hospital.
An elderly man wears a fall risk bracelet while at a hospital. OHSU experts want more people to understand the risks for ground-level falls and how to prevent them. (Getty Images)

One of the biggest causes of traumatic injuries treated at Oregon Health & Science University involves people, usually older, toppling over on level ground.

Known as ground-level falls, this form of injury accounted for almost 19% of all patients treated for trauma at OHSU Hospital in 2021. OHSU has seen a sharp increase in ground-level falls over the past five years. Even though it may not sound as dangerous as other leading causes of trauma — gunshots, stabbings, motor vehicle crashes — this seemingly innocuous mishap is actually the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide.

The reason: An aging population that’s more susceptible to falls. Many of these injuries can be life-threatening and life-altering, often due to underlying medical conditions exacerbated by the impact.

Martin Schreiber, M.D. poses with a brown background.
Martin Schreiber, M.D. (OHSU)

“Gravity conquers,” said Martin Schreiber, M.D., division head for trauma, critical care and acute care surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine. “Within the past three or four years, ground-level falls exceeded motor vehicle crashes as the number one cause of trauma, not only here, but throughout the nation.

“This is one of the biggest problems in the U.S. today.”

OHSU, one of two Level 1 trauma centers in Oregon, treated a total of 756 people for ground-level falls in calendar year 2021 — a sharp increase over the 486 such injuries treated in 2017. More than 75% of those cases involved people older than 65.

A geriatrician at OHSU says the problem is rooted in a booming population of older adults.

Katie Drago, M.D., next to a brown background.
Katie Drago, M.D. (OHSU)

“The fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. is people older than 85,” said Katie Drago, M.D., assistant professor of medicine (general internal medicine and geriatrics) in the OHSU School of Medicine. “It’s wonderful that people are living longer lives, but it also means that we’re seeing more cases of traumatic injury from ground-level falls.”

Drago said that after a first fall, older adults are two to three times more likely to fall again.

“If we can do things to break out of that cycle, then we can actually reduce their risk of injury — and they can continue to live independently,” she said. “Falling is not inevitable.”

OHSU-Fall-Trauma-2022
There has been a steady increase in ground-level fall injuries treated at OHSU. (OHSU/David Riofrio)

As part of Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Sept. 18-24, the National Council on Aging has joined with health care workers to emphasize measures to reduce falls to ensure older adults can live safely and independently.

Exercise

Drago said she emphasizes the importance of physical activity with her patients, including aerobic exercise, strength training and balance through activities such as tai chi. She advises older adults to build exercise into their daily routine.

“Inertia really does kill,” she said. “Bodies in motion stay in motion.”

Minding medication

Drago said that ground-level falls aren’t typically due to any one factor, but could be a combination of factors. For example, medications can combine in unanticipated ways, leading to dizziness that contributes to falling.

She often works with her patients to cull lengthy lists of medications and supplements. It’s also worth discussing whether bifocals used for reading may not be ideal for moving around.

It’s imperative to visit a health care provider any time a person falls, she said.

“Usually, people aren’t going to be able to distinguish on their own whether they simply tripped, or if they might be having a major neurological or cardiac issue that needs to be dealt with,” Drago said. “If you have fallen, you should bring it up with your primary care provider.”

Clearing a path

Drago said many cases arrive in the trauma bays as a simple result of clutter. Someone gets up in the night to use the bathroom and trips over a pile of books; or their hallway isn’t quite wide enough to use a cane without bumping into a wall; or overgrown shrubbery encroaches on walkways around the house.

Keeping a clear path enables older adults to minimize the risk of falling and to continue living independently.

“Little things like that can make a big difference for people,” Drago said.

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