What is the leading cause of injury death in the elderly population?

• A. Heart disease
• B. Cancer
• C. Trauma secondary to falls
• D. Stroke

Answer: (C)

The important idea here is that injuries in older adults are most often caused by downstream effects of falls. Falls are very common in the elderly and can lead to serious injuries such as hip fractures or head trauma. These injuries carry a high risk of death in this population because recovery is slower, frailty and multiple health issues complicate treatment, and immobility can lead to pneumonia, deconditioning, and other complications. So, even though heart disease, cancer, and stroke are major causes of death overall in the elderly, they are not injury deaths. When focusing specifically on deaths from injuries, trauma related to falls is the leading cause. Preventing these outcomes involves assessing fall risk and applying mitigation strategies like home safety improvements, balance and strength training, vision checks, reviewing medications that affect balance or alertness, and using assistive devices as needed.