In 2793 respondents aged 65 and over in a survey of a geographically defined community, who were asked about falls in the preceding twelve months, the estimated annual prevalence rate (persons) of falls was 28.0%. Standardized for age, the rate was twice as high in women as in men. Rates increased with age but more steeply in men than in women. Compared with non-fallers, fallers had been in more recent contact with their general practitioner, showed higher prevalence of problems with mobility and daily living, a more frequent history of stroke and heart disease, and had more episodes of non-rotatory vertigo, double vision, faints and blackouts and episodes of weakness or numbness. Fallers also showed more frequent evidence suggestive of cognitive impairment. More fallers than non-fallers were taking diuretics and tranquilizers and these associations merit further study.

In a prospective study of patients with fractures of the proximal femur from a defined population it was found that age, mental test score, type of residence, place of injury and hospital of admission were all significantly associated with the likelihood of survival to six months. When these factors were taken into account no additional association between outcome and recorded associated disease, grade of surgeon operating, cigarette smoking, type of operation or social class was demonstrable. These findings have implications for the design of controlled trials of different types of treatment for fractures of the proximal femur.

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