MORTALITY FROM FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN THE STATE OF ALAGOAS, BRAZIL: AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: to describe the epidemiological profile of mortality from falls among older adults in Alagoas, Brazil, from 2015 to 2024. Method: descriptive ecological study using data from the Mortality Information System (SIM/DATASUS) on deaths from falls (ICD-10 W00 to W19) among residents aged 60 years or older. Frequencies and annual rates per 10,000 older adults were calculated using IBGE population projections. Results: there were 1,585 deaths, with a mean rate of 4.0 per 10,000 older adults. The rate rose from 2.78 in 2015 to 5.23 in 2020, the highest value in the series, fell to 2.96 in 2022 and was 3.64 in 2024. Females (52.3%), the age group of 80 years or older (51.9%), brown skin color (72.9%), widowed individuals (32.0%) and hospital deaths (82.4%) predominated. Those aged 80 years or older had the highest rates in every year (8.4 to 21.4 per 10,000). The nonspecific categories W18 and W19 accounted for 61.1% of deaths, and schooling was unknown in 50.5% of records. Conclusion: mortality from falls among older adults in Alagoas fluctuated over the period, with the highest value in 2020, and was higher among those aged 80 years or older, a priority group for prevention. The low specificity of causes and the unknown information indicate the need to improve the completion of death certificates.