title: Rapid increase in fall-induced cervical spine injuries among older Finnish adults between 1970 and 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  fall-related injuries in older adults are a major public heath challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  we determined the current trends in the number and age-adjusted incidence of fall-induced severe cervical spine injuries among older adults in Finland by taking into account all persons in 50 years of age or older who were admitted to Finnish hospitals for primary treatment of these injuries between 1970 and 2011. Similar patients aged 20-49 years served as a reference group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the number of fall-induced cervical spine injuries among older Finns rose six-fold from 59 in 1970 to 372 in 2011. The age-adjusted incidence of injury (per 100 000 persons) was higher in men than in women throughout this period and showed a clear increase from 1970 to 2011: from 8.5 to 20.3 in men, and from 2.8 to 11.7 in women. In both sexes, the increase was most prominent in the oldest age group, persons aged 70 years or older. In the reference group, the injury incidence did not rise by time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the number and incidence of fall-induced severe cervical spine injuries among older Finns increased considerably between 1970 and 2011. An increase in the average risk of serious falls may partly explain the phenomenon. Wide-scale fall and injury prevention measures are urgently needed, because further ageing of the population is likely to worsen the problem in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kannus
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niemi
authors.affiliation: Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkkari
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievänen
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: cervical spine; epidemiology; fall-induced injury; older people