this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026
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Why have death rates from accidental falls tripled? | USAFacts (usafacts.org)
submitted 3 weeks ago by ooli3@sopuli.xyz to c/science@beehaw.org
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[–] blueworld@piefed.world 13 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Obnoxiously written article. The answer:

Why have deaths from falls, on an age-adjusted basis, risen? There are at least five possible reasons.

First, some of the increased deaths from falls may be due to prescription medications. Numerous prescription drugs, such as many antidepressants and psychotherapeutic agents, are labeled as fall risk-increasing drugs.

...

Second, some of the increased deaths may be due to rising alcohol consumption.

...

Third, it may be due to increased rates of obesity.

...

Fourth, some of the increase may be due to changes in reporting. As people have become more aware of the danger of falls, falls that used to not be recorded as a cause of death may increasingly be reported as a cause.

...

Fifth, some of the increase may be due to fewer deaths from other causes.

Fifth being a similar number of a small amount increases percentage.

[–] calliope@retrolemmy.com 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Legitimately a worthless article. They explain why right at the beginning. Before their further asinine 5 reasons.

Age is an enormous predictor of death risk by falls. From about age 40 onward, the annual death rate from falls increases by roughly 9–10% for each additional year of age. And people older than 65 grew from 12.4% of the US population in 2000 to 17.6% in 2023.

It’s literally right there. They called it the “baby boom” for a reason. The population is way older.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

And they never mentioned the slackening of OSHA standards?

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I doubt that would have a significant impact on the fall statistics, especially as a cause of death.

Most fall deaths happen to the elderly.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 weeks ago

Then the slackening of OSHA restrictions combined with the unattainability of retirement for many blue collar workers

[–] shittydwarf@piefed.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

Strangely absent doomscrolling

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 5 points 3 weeks ago

Just off the headline, is it because whistleblower rates have also trippled? (Disclaimer, i dont actually know the statistic for the whistleblowers, just trying to make a mild funny)

[–] kbal@fedia.io 4 points 3 weeks ago

Maybe it's been about 65 years since people started routinely driving cars every time they needed to go somewhere, and thus we no longer get so much practice walking around and tripping over things. The "vehicle miles traveled" data only goes back to 1970 but since then per capita driving in the USA is up by 80%.