Arthritis to Blame for Fall Injuries

Middle-aged and older adults are two or more times apt to fall and be injured if they have arthritis than are those without arthritis according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older adults, with more than one in three older adults falling each year. This results in direct medical costs of nearly $30 billion. The major consequences for older adults who fall are hip fractures, brain injuries, a decline in functional abilities and reductions in social and physical activities.

The study revealed that falls and injuries caused by falls are also common among middle-age adults. A major risk factor for falling is poor neuromuscular function (gait speed and balance), which is common among persons with arthritis. In the United States, 30.2% of middle-aged adults—those 45 to 64 years old—have arthritis. Among older adults, age 65 and up, the rate is 49.7%. These populations account for 52% of all adults in the U.S. The most common cause of their disability is arthritis.

To examine the prevalence of falls among middle-aged and older adults with arthritis in different states and territories, the CDC analyzed data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Researchers used this data to assess the state-specific prevalence of individuals having fallen and having experienced a fall injury in the past 12 months. The CDC report calls for a greater dissemination of arthritis management and fall prevention programs in clinical and community practice.