[Assessment of the determinants of accidents and injuries among elderly people].

According to the GUS data in Poland every tenth person over the 60 years were physically handicapped due to accidents and injuries (1996). The aim of the present study was to assess the causes and risk factors of accidents in the elderly and types of action taken. Health status was estimated on the basis of information about diseases, complaints, stage of disability. Study covered 1910 subjects from Poland. In the investigated group 35% subjects had an accident in the previous 10 years. Accidents happened most frequently out of home (64%). 56% of victims of accidents needed medical care (29% were admitted to hospital). Place of inhabitancy, educational status, marital status, BMI had no influence on the risk of accidents. Only living alone (without family) was a significant risk factor. The risk of accidents increased proportionally to the age in the study group (1% per year). The lowest rate of accidents was observed in the group of moderate physical activity.