OBJECTIVETo analyze the trend and distribution of Falls, using the data from National Injury Surveillance System (NISS), 2008-2013, to provide basic information for Fall prevention.

METHODSData of Falls was descriptively analyzed from the Chinese NISS from 2008 to 2013.

RESULTSIn total, 1 223 905 cases of Falls were analyzed, that accounted for 32.94% of all the injury cases, with the gender ratio as 1.57. Both the number and the proportion of the cases showed an increasing trend. Labor population (15-64 years-old) accounted for 66.63% of the total 271 502 cases of Falls in 2013. Cases aged 0-4, 5-14 and over 65 accounted for 55.53%, 52.93% and 56.59% among all the types of injuries in each of their age group. Gender ratio appeared to be 1.54 but more females cases were seen with the increase of age. The peak hours that injuries took place were 10:00-10:59 AM (10.04% of total) and 14:00-20:59 PM (43.56% of total). The top three places that injuries took place were home (33.03%), public residents (22.79%) and on the roads (15.49%). Recreation activates (65.38%), paid jobs (13.01%) and housework (7.52%) were the three major ways causing the Falls to take place. The most common parts of body that injuries involved were head (30.41%), low limbs (27.43%) and upper limbs (21.93%), with bruise (54.60%), sprain/strain (16.87%), fractures (15.48%) most commonly seen. 77.76% of the cases were minor but the proportion of moderate and serious injuries increased along with the increase of age.

CONCLUSIONFall was the main type of injury in this country, showing an increasing trend of proportion among all the types of injuries. Though labor-related Falls accounted for the biggest proportion, prevention programs targeting the elderly and children should also be prioritized.