What Role Do Injuries Play in the Deaths of Old People?

An injury event related to a person's death may be recorded on the death certificate as the underlying cause of death, as an event associated with death but not necessarily causing it, or both. Of the 5,882 deaths in Los Angeles during 1980 with a related injury event recorded on the death certificate, an injury event was identified as the underlying cause of death for more than 95 percent of those aged less than 55 and only 54 percent for those aged 65 or older. This finding suggests that injury may be underreported as a cause of death among old people. Deaths which were injury-related but for which there was no notation of injury could not be identified, but the numbers may be substantial. If so, considerably more attention should be given to injury care and prevention for the elderly.