Objectives: This study determined the cost of fall-related health care in a cohort of community-dwelling people.
Methods: 578 people aged 75 years and over were monitored for falls and related health-care costs for one year.
Results: The mean cost per injurious fall was $1600 (year 2000 dollars). Hospital costs accounted for 67% of the total cost, even though only 4% of injurious falls required hospital admission. The cost of non-hospital health care was also substantial.
Conclusion: This study highlights the economic burden of falls and the importance of injury prevention strategies.