Accidental and violent injuries: Less frequent among the older population, but more serious

C O N TE N TS In France today, heart disease and cancer are the most frequent pathologies affecting older adults. Their health can also be suddenly compromised by an unexpected accident. While not lethal in the majority of cases, such accidents can cause bodily injury. Injuries are more difficult to count than deaths (Box 1), but have been monitored more effectively over the last ten years thanks to studies based, in many cases, on hospital statistics (Box 2). It is possible to distinguish between accidents (road traffic, home and leisure) and intentional violence (suicide attempts and physical assaults by a third party). Based on the most recent information sources, we will examine the frequency of these four types of bodily injury among older adults. Does a comparison between the older and younger populations confirm that older adults are more frequent victims of assault, as is sometimes claimed? And is their health, already fragile, more adversely affected?