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Figure 1 shows the estimated numbers and rates of fall-related injuries among Canadian seniors across all survey years. In 2005, 194 135 Canadians aged 65 years or older reported being injured due to a fall in the previous 12 months. This number increased to 256 011 in 2009/2010 and 299 769 in 2013, with an overall increase of 54% from 2005 to 2013. A similar upward trend was observed in the rate of fall-related injuries, from 49.4 (95% CI: 45.5–53.3) per 1000 population in 2005 to 57.5 (95% CI: 52.6–62.3) per 1000 in 2009/2010 and 58.8 (95% CI: 53.0–64.6) per 1000 in 2013. Compared to 2005, the rate estimate was significantly higher in 2013 (p = .01). Of note, while the increase in rate between 2005 and 2009/2010 was statistically significant (8.1 per 1000, p = .01), the rate appeared to level off, with only a small and non-significant increase between 2009/2010 and 2013 (1.3 per 1000, p = .72).
Figure 2 shows rates of fall-related injuries by sex and survey year. Based on non-overlapping CIs, women had significantly higher rates of fall-related injuries than men across all survey years, with female-to-male ratios ranging from 1.4 to 1.7. Fall-related injury rates for women increased steadily from 61.0 (95% CI: 55.2–66.9) per 1000 in 2005 to 72.4 (95% CI: 63.9–80.9) per 1000 in 2013 (p = .03 for 2013 vs. 2005). On the other hand, whereas men experienced a marked increase between 2005 and 2009/2010, from 34.9 (95% CI: 30.2–39.6) per 1000 to 46.3 (95% CI: 39.5–53.1) per 1000 (p = .007), there was a small but non-significant decrease between 2009/2010 and 2013, to a rate of 42.7 (95% CI: 35.0–50.4) per 1000 in 2013. Unlike for women, the difference in rates between the 2005 and 2013 samples was not statistically significant for men (p = .10).
Figure 3 shows rates of fall-related injuries by 5-year age groups and survey year. In general, the rate of fall-related injuries increased with advancing age in all survey years, with a larger increase from the 80–84 to the 85–89 age group. From 2005 to 2013, a significant upward trend was seen among those aged 65–69 and 70–74 years (p = .02 for both), while a non-significant decline was noted in the oldest age group (i.e. ≥ 90 years). Moreover, in 2005, the rate of fall-related injuries among seniors aged 90 years or older was 2.5 times that among those aged 65 to 69 years (102.8 vs. 40.6 per 1000), but this ratio decreased to 2.0 in 2009/2010 (100.6 vs. 49.8 per 1000) and 1.5 in 2013 (83.8 vs. 55.4 per 1000).
Based on combined data from the 2005, 2009/2010 and 2013 samples, Figure 4 shows the proportion of fall-related injuries by type of injury. The majority of fall-related injuries involved broken or fractured bones (37%), sprains or strains (27%) and scrapes, bruises or blisters (17%). Although the wording in the 2009/2010 and 2013 questionnaires changed slightly from that in 2005 (e.g. the “sprain or strain” category was given more details in 2009/2010 and 2013: “sprain or strain, including torn ligaments and muscles”), we did not observe any meaningful differences in proportions across survey years because of these changes.
Based on combined data from the 2005, 2009/2010 and 2013 samples, Figure 5 shows the proportion of fall-related injuries by part of body injured. The body parts that were most frequently affected were shoulder or upper arm (16%), knee or lower leg (13%) and ankle or foot (11%). Although the wording in the 2009/2010 and 2013 questionnaires changed slightly from that in 2005, we did not observe any meaningful differences in proportions across survey years because of these changes.
Figure 6 shows the proportion of fall-related injuries by type of activity associated with the fall using combined data from the 2009/2010 and 2013 samples (the 2005 sample was excluded due to differences in the categorization of activity types). The largest proportions of fall-related injuries resulted from slipping, tripping, stumbling or loss of balance while walking on a surface other than snow or ice (45%), while walking on snow or ice (16%) and while going up or down stairs or steps (12%). Others reported falling due to health problems (e.g. fainting, weakness, dizziness, hip/knee giving out, seizure) (7%), from furniture or while rising from furniture (e.g. bed, chair) (6%), while engaged in sport or physical exercise (5%) or from an elevated position (4%).
Obesity prevalence rates that used objectively measured BMI more than doubled in Canadian children and adolescents (aged under 18 years) between 1978/79 and 2004, from 6.3% (in 2 to 17 year olds) to 13.3% (in 6 to 17 year olds). Data from the 2007–2009, 2009–2011 and 2012–2013 cycles of CHMS suggest that obesity prevalence rates have stabilized between 11.6% and 14.3% (in 6 to 17 year olds). These observations are consistent with POHEM-BMI, which projects that obesity among Canadian children aged 6 to 17 years will stabilize after 2013, resulting in 1 in 7 children being obese.
Obesity prevalence rates that used objectively measured BMI nearly doubled in Canadian adults between 1978/79 and 2004, from 13.8% to 23.1%. Data from the 2007–2009, 2009–2011 and 2012–2013 cycles of CHMS suggest adult obesity prevalence was between 23.9% and 26.4%, resulting in 1 in 4 adults being obese. Projections using POHEM-BMI suggest obesity among adults will rise over the next two decades.
Obesity prevalence rates are higher in boys than in girls. Data from the 2007–2009, 2009–2011 and 2012–2013 cycles of CHMS suggest that obesity prevalence rates have stabilized between 11.6% and 14.3% (in 6 to 17 year olds). These observations are consistent with POHEM-BMI, which projects that obesity among Canadian children aged 6 to 17 years will stabilize after 2013, resulting in 1 in 7 children being obese.
Data from the 2007–2009, 2009–2011 and 2012–2013 cycles of CHMS suggest adult obesity prevalence was between 23.9% and 26.4%, resulting in 1 in 4 adults being obese. Projections using POHEM-BMI suggest obesity among adults will rise over the next two decades, with the largest increase in adult men.