Keywords
Epidemiology
Older adults
Brazil
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile of deaths and the temporal trend of mortality due to falls in older adults in the Southern Region of Brazil between 2013 and 2023. Methods: Descriptive ecological study with temporal trend analysis based on secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM). Deaths of individuals aged 60 years or older, classified between W00 and W19 of the ICD-10, were included. Sociodemographic variables, place of death, specific cause of the fall, and mortality rates per 100,000 elderly people were analyzed. The temporal trend was evaluated by Prais-Winsten regression, with calculation of the annual percentage change (APC) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: There were 27,200 deaths from falls during the period. There was a predominance among women, individuals aged 80 years or older, self-declared white individuals, widows, and individuals with lower levels of education, with a higher occurrence in hospitals. The highest rates were identified in the age group ≥80 years and in the state of Paraná. The trend was stable in the regional aggregate, with significant growth in the 60–69 age group and in Santa Catarina. Conclusion: Mortality from falls in older adults in the southern region of Brazil showed a heterogeneous pattern, with stability in the regional aggregate and growth in specific subgroups.
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