title: Epidemiology of Geriatric Trauma in an Urban Kazakhstani Setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  External causes of death are still among the main causes of death in the countries of the former Soviet Union. We studied epidemiology of injuries among elderly in a typical Kazakhstani city.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on all injuries among individuals aged 60 yr or older in the city of Semey (former Semipalatinsk) from 2010 to 2012 was collected from medical files. We present absolute numbers and incidence rates for the main ICD-codes in Chapters XIX and XX of ICD-10 by gender, ethnic background and place where the injury occurred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, there were 6065 injuries in 2010-2012. The overall incidence of increased from 4746.6 per 100000 in 2010 to 5577.7 per 100000 in 2012. Injuries to the elbow and forearm, injuries to the shoulder and upper arm, and injuries to the knee and lower leg were the most common and comprised 17.3%, 15.5% and 14.6% of all injuries, respectively. Falls constituted 82.2% of all injuries. Most injuries occurred at home and among ethnic Russians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence and the absolute number of injuries among elderly in Semey increased during the study period in both men and women. Given that the population of Kazakhstan is getting older, injuries are expected to require more attention from the public health professionals and health authorities. More than four-fifths of traumas resulted from falls making this cause of injury the first target for preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Aidos S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tlemissov
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Marzhan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dauletyarova
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Tolkyn A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bulegenov
authors.affiliation: Semey State Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan.
authors.forename: Tolebay K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Rakhypbekov
authors.affiliation: Dept. of International Public Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Preventive Medicine, International Kazakh - Turkish University, Turkestan, Kazakhstan; International School of Public Health, Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk, Russia.
authors.forename: Andrej M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grjibovski
keywords: Central Asia; Epidemiology; Falls; Injury; Kazakhstan; Trauma