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Beyond Mortality and Hospitalization Data: Self-Reported Injuries Among Canadian Seniors*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Parminder Raina ,
Micheline Wong ,
Steven Dukeshire ,
Andria Scanlan ,
Larry Chambers  and
Joan Lindsay
Parminder Raina
Affiliation:
McMaster University Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health Department
Micheline Wong
Affiliation:
British Columbia Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health
Steven Dukeshire
Affiliation:
Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health Department
Andria Scanlan
Affiliation:
British Columbia Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health
Larry Chambers
Affiliation:
McMaster University Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health Department
Joan Lindsay
Affiliation:
Health Canada.
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Abstract

This study describes the prevalence and characteristics of self-reported unintentional injuries among Canadians aged 55 years and older. Based on the cross-sectional data from the 1994 National Population Health Survey (NPHS), approximately 10 per cent of older adults experienced unintentional injuries serious enough to limit their normal daily activities. Consistent with hospitalization and mortality data, unintentional falls and motor vehicle crashes were reported as the major causes of injury. However, the other predominant causes of unintentional injuries were environmental incidents and being struck by an object. The most common types of injuries were sprains/strains and broken/fractured bones; the greatest number of injuries was to the lower limbs; and the majority of injuries occurred in the home and surrounding area. Unintentional injuries represent a significant health threat among older adults. Self-reported data serve as a different but complementary source of information on unintentional injuries among older adults.

Résumé

Cette étude décrit la fréquence et les caractéristiques des blessures involontaires déclarées par les canadiens de 55 ans et plus. D'après les données transversales de l'Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population, environ 10 pour 100 des aînés subissent des blessures involontaires suffisant à les empêcher d'exercer leurs activités normales. Les données d'hospitalisation et de mortalité révèlent que les chutes involontaires et les accidents de véhicules motorisés constituent la principale cause de blessure. Cependant, on signale les incidents dus à l'environnement et les heurts comme autre cause importante de blessure involontaire. Les blessures les plus communes sont les entorses et les fractures des os. Le plus grand nombre de blessures se situe aux membres inférieurs et la plupart des blessures se produisent dans la maison ou autour. Les blessures involontaires représentent une menace sérieuse pour la santé des aînés. Les données communiquées par les intéressés sont une source d'information différente mais complémentaire sur les blessures involontaires chez les aînés.

Keywords

SeniorsInjuryNational Population Health Survey.Ainé(e)sblessureEnquête nationale sur la santé de la population.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , Automne/Fall 1999 , pp. 328 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1999

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