Objective: To understand the incidence of falls in different residents of four communities in Zhejiang Province to provide a basis for their prevention and control.
Methods: A household questionnaire survey on falls was conducted in 16 899 residents of two urban and two rural communities during November 2000 to October 2001.
Results: Standardized incidence rate of falls was 5.07%, higher in rural areas (5.23%) than that in urban areas (4.95%) and showing no significant differences by gender. Falls occurred in September and October accounted for 11.68% and 19.22% and those occurred in pre-school children and the elderly accounted for 22.94% and 19.46% of the total episodes, respectively. Leading causes of falls varied in different population, from falls during their play (7.65%) and sports (4.06%) in young people and pre-school children (19.12%), slipping down when walking in adult (1.21%) and elderly (4.28%) men, and slipping down when up and down stairs in adult and elderly women. Burden and severity of injury caused by falls were increased with age.
Conclusions: Incidence of falls in pre-school children and the elderly was higher in local residents of communities in Zhejiang Province, causing heavy burden to the society and their families. Varied relevant measures should be taken to prevent and control for falls in different subgroups of population.