Falls among older adults in Canada: Data blog

Summary of the most recent national-level statistics on fall-related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits among older adults in Canada.

Last updated: 2023-12-04

Adults aged 65 years and older are at increased risk for falls. This risk can be attributed to a number of factors, which can include decreased mobility and balance, muscle weakness and visual impairment among individuals.^{Footnote 1} Fall-related injuries among older adults can have serious health and social consequences, impacting the quality of lives and even causing deaths.

In Canada, as the population ages and life expectancy increases, mortality rates associated with falls have increased by 111% between 2001 and 2019 among adults aged 65 years and older. Similarly, the number of fall-related hospitalizations in Canada among this population rose by 47% from 2008 to 2019^{Footnote *} (this estimate excludes Quebec).^{Footnote 2} In 2018, it was estimated that the direct cost of fall-related injuries among Canadian adults aged 65 years and older was approximately $5.6 billion, a cost doubling that among those in the 25 to 64 years age group^Footnote3.

As adults aged 65 years and older are expected to represent over a fifth of the Canadian population by 2068^{Footnote 4}, continuing to monitor fall-related injuries and deaths among this population and examining associated risk factors will be important measures that can help guide and inform prevention efforts. In this light, the Public Health Agency of Canada released a comprehensive report in 2022 presenting national-level health statistics on falls among adults aged 65 years and older using a variety of health data sources. This data blog builds on this report in that it provides the most recent national-level statistics on fall-related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits among older adults in Canada. Information on factors contributing to falls is also provided to help inform prevention efforts.

Deaths due to falls

Figure 1 presents numbers on deaths and mortality rates due to falls by age and sex. In 2021, 6,579 adults aged 65 years and older died of falls in Canada (this estimate excludes Yukon). As shown, mortality rates generally rose with age among both men and women. In each age group, men had higher mortality rates compared to women, yet women had a higher overall rate (95.9 per 100,000 vs 89.5 per 100,000). In total, more women died from falls (n =3,657) compared to men (n = 2,922), a finding reflecting the fact that there are more women than men aged 65 years and older in Canada.

Figure 1: Number of fall-related deaths and mortality rates, by age and sex, population aged 65 years and older, Canada (Yukon not included), 2021

Age group (years)	Count (Men)	Count (Women)	Rate per 100,000 (Men)	Rate per 100,000 (Women)
65 to 69	174	83	16.1	7.2
70 to 74	297	174	33.6	18.0
75 to 79	324	303	54.0	44.5
80 to 84	518	510	138.7	108.9
85 to 89	724	855	338.8	274.2
90+	885	1,732	800.9	733.9
All 65+	2,922	3,657	89.5	95.9

Fall-related hospitalizations

Figure 2 presents numbers on fall-related hospitalizations and rates by age and sex. In 2022^{Footnote *}, there were 78,076 fall-related hospitalizations (this estimate excludes Quebec) among adults aged 65 years and older, representing 88.6% of all injury-related hospitalizations among this age group. Of these falls, women accounted for nearly two-thirds of such hospitalizations (n = 49,919). For both men and women, hospitalization rates increased with age, yet those among women were consistently higher compared to men. Over a third (34.4%) of fall-related hospitalizations (n = 26,848) among adults aged 65 years and older were associated with a hip fracture. For more information on hip fractures and other health statistics, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System.

Figure 2: Number of fall-related hospitalizations and rates, by age and sex, population aged 65 years and older, Canada (Quebec not included), 2022^{Footnote *}

Age group (years)	Count (Men)	Count (Women)	Rate per 1,000 (Men)	Rate per 1,000 (Women)
65 to 69	3,703	4,635	4.4	5.1
70 to 74	4,330	6,067	6.4	8.1
75 to 79	4,923	7,871	10.0	14.1
80 to 84	5,279	9,139	17.8	24.7
85 to 89	5,284	10,143	31.9	42.8
90+	4,638	12,064	53.2	68.0
All 65+	28,157	49,919	11.0	16.6

Fall-related emergency department visits

Figure 3 presents fall-related emergency department (ED) visits and rates by age and sex. In 2022^{Footnote *}, there were 200,825 fall-related ED visits reported in Ontario and Alberta among adults aged 65 years and older. Of these ED visits, nearly two-thirds were among (n = 126,765) women. Similar to hospitalizations, ED rates increased with age for both men and women, and those among women were consistently higher compared to men.

Figure 3: Number of fall-related emergency department visits and rates by age and sex, population aged 65 years and older, Ontario and Alberta, 2022^{Footnote *}

Age group (years)	Count (Men)	Count (Women)	Rate per 1,000 (Men)	Rate per 1,000 (Women)
65 to 69	13,998	21,657	26.5	37.9
70 to 74	13,653	21,586	32.9	46.4
75 to 79	13,499	21,768	44.7	61.9
80 to 84	12,231	20,608	65.8	87.1
85 to 89	11,469	19,783	109.1	129.5
90+	9,210	21,363	165.0	187.2
All 65+	74,060	126,765	46.5	67.0

Factors contributing to falls among older adults

As presented in Table 1, there are many risk factors associated with falls, some of which stem from biological, behavioural, social/economic and environmental factors. Fall prevention efforts generally entail a multifaceted approach, consisting of a number of key strategies. At the individual level, for instance, participating in balance and strength exercises, obtaining proper sleep, eating well and staying hydrated are strategies that may reduce the risk of falls among older adults. At the community level, providing educational opportunities to older adults on fall prevention strategies (i.e knowledge of medical equipment, exercise programs and fall prevention skills), installing handrails and grab bars, and removing debris such as snow and ice from public walkways are examples of broader scale approaches. For more information on key strategies regarding fall prevention among older adults, please visit Government of Canada and Parachute websites.

Table 1: Factors contributing to falls- source: Government of British Columbia^{Footnote 1}

Factors	Examples
Biological	Decreased mobility and balance Muscle weakness visual impairment Acute or chronic illness and disability
Behavioural	History of falls Fear of falling Poor nutrition and/or hydration Lack of physical activity Inappropriate footware and clothing
Social	Low income Low education Inadequate housing Lack of support networks and social isolation Limited access to appropriate health or social services
Environmental	Home hazards: Clutter, lack of stair railings, loose rugs or other tripping hazards Lack of grab bars in the bathroom Poor lighting, especially on stairs

Notes for the data

Data sources are as follows:

Figure 1 - Statistics Canada's Canadian Vital Statistics- Death Database 2021
Figure 2 - Canadian Institute for Health Information's Discharge Abstract Database 2022^{Footnote *}
Figure 3 - Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Ambulatory Care Reporting System 2022 ^{Footnote *}

Counts were based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes W00–W19.

References and Footnotes

Footnote 1

Government of British Columbia. What Contributes to Falls?. Government of British Columbia [cited 2023 October 11].

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Footnote 2

Public Health Agency of Canada. Surveillance report on falls among older adults in Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada; 2022 March [cited 2023 October 11].

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Footnote 3