Elevated fall-related mortality rates — New Mexico, 1999–2004

Fall injuries affect 30% of U.S. residents aged ≥65 years and cost $19 billion in 2000. During 2002-2004, New Mexico (NM) led the nation in annual fall-related mortality rates. We conducted a descriptive analysis to better understand the epidemiology of fatal falls in NM. Unintentional falls were identified as the underlying cause of death by using NM Department of Health death-certificate data and national Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) data for 1999-2004. Age-adjusted mortality rates and rate ratios were analyzed by sex, ethnicity, race, and year. For 1999-2004 combined, NM's fall-related mortality rate (11.3/100,000 population) was 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.9-2.2) times the U.S. rate (5.5/100,000 population); elevated rate ratios (RR) persisted when stratified by sex (RRmales=2.0; RRfemales=2.2), ethnicity (RRHispanic=2.4; RRnon-Hispanic=2.1), race (RRWhite=2.0; RRBlack=1.8; RRAmerican Indian=2.1; RRAsian/Pacific Islander=2.4; RROther=3.1), and age (RR≥50 years=2.2; RR<50 years=1.4). NM males and non-Hispanics had the highest mortality rates (14.4/100,000 and 11.3/100,000 population, respectively). During 1999-2004, NM's 62% increase in the fall-related mortality rate was more than twice the U.S. increase (28%); the increase among non-Hispanics (82%) was 4 times that among Hispanics (20%) and the increase among males was 1.7 times that of females. In conclusion, NM's fall-related mortality rate was twice the U.S. rate, exhibited a greater increase, and persisted across sex, ethnicity, race, and for older ages. Non-Hispanics and males accounted for the highest rates and percent increases in fall-related mortality in NM. Characterizing fall etiology is needed to develop effective prevention measures.