Falls and Related Bone Fractures

Abstract

According to the 2016 Vital Statistics of Japan, 8030 people die from falling each year, 88% of whom are 65 years and older [1]. The primary cause of functional disability is a bone fracture in 12% of the cases [2], and falls and related bone fractures are a critical public health issue among the elderly population. In this chapter, we first look at the frequency of falls and related bone fractures and the regional differences in their distribution. This is followed by a review of the literature regarding the association between falls and related bone fractures and socioeconomic status (SES), and a discussion of the reasons for the association and possible approaches to preventing falls. 2 Frequency of and Regional Differences in Falls and Related Bone Fractures Approximately 10-20% of community-dwelling older adults living in Japan fall at least once per year [3-7]. Bone fracture occurs in approximately 10% of falls [8], and it is estimated that slightly fewer than 10% of those are hip fractures [9]. The annual Takahiro Hayashi is also the English translator for this chapter.