[Injury among the elderly: the challenge to integrate preventive activities in public and individual levels].
BACKGROUND
In Brazil and all over the world the elderly are increasing as a result of the raise in life expectancy. This group still faces a significant risk for some diseases as well as injuries. The proposal of this study was to describe fatal and nonfatal injuries among people aged 60 years and older in Brazil.


METHODS
Brazil, the last year available was 2000.


METHODS
The data from 13,383 injury deaths and 87,177 outcomes among people aged 60 years and older were analyzed. The data sets were obtained from Federal Health Department of Brazil from Mortality System Information (from death certificates) and Hospitalization Information System (from discharges registered in public hospitals).


RESULTS
The mortality rate is 92.1/100,000 (135.3/100,000 for male and 56.8/100,000 for female) that are higher than overall population rates, especially for women. The lead cause is transport accidents (27.5% of total injury deaths) which mortality rate is 25.3/100,000 and 48.2% are pedestrian. Homicides rate is 9.5/100,000, it is almost three times lower than for total population in Brazil. Falls rate is 14.0/100,000, it is the third place in injury deaths for men and women and suicide rate is 6.9/100,000, lower than developed countries. Opposite to mortality, falls are the major cause of nonfatal injuries hospitalization for both men and women, accounting for 48,940 discharges (56.1%). Fractures are 52.8% of all injuries, especially in falls and transport accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
It is crucial to develop injury preventive activities in both public and individual level. Falls should receive emphasis in injury prevention efforts.
Gawryszewski
Vilma Pinheiro
VP
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. vilmapg@saude.sp.gov.br
de Mello Jorge
Maria Helena Prado
MH
Koizumi
Maria Sumie
MS
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*