Fall research funding in the US from 2018-2022 relative to fall-related mortality,disability-adjusted life years,and healthcare expenditures

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the relationship between fall-related mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), healthcare expenditures, and research funding and determine whether fall prevention funding is proportional to fall-related public health impact.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

United States.

Sample

Not applicable.

Measures

Mortality rates (2018-2022) for leading causes of death were obtained from CDC WONDER. Disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates (2021) were obtained from the World Health Organization. Healthcare expenditures (2016) were obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Research funding data (2018-2022) were obtained from NIH ExPORTER and linked to causes of death using MeSH term searches.

Analysis

Linear regression models were used with log-transformed research funding as the dependent variable and log-transformed mortality rates, DALY rates, and healthcare expenditures as predictors.

Results

Fall mortality rate was 13.1 deaths per 100 000 individuals, fall-related DALY rate was 713.2 per 100 000, and fall-related healthcare expenditures were $106.6 billion. Falls ranked 12th in mortality, 8th in DALY, and 5th in healthcare costs but 20th in research funding, receiving $489 million over 5 years. Falls received significantly less funding than expected based on mortality rates (predicted $1.95 billion), DALY rates (predicted $3.27 billion) and healthcare expenditures (predicted $5.63 billion).

Conclusion

Although falls have a significant impact on older adults’ health and mortality, fall research funding is disproportionately low. To reduce mortality and mitigate rising healthcare costs associated with falls, federal investment in fall prevention research should be a higher priority.