External Causes of Death for Elderly in Parana, Brazil from 2001-2010

Mortality from external causes in the elderly constitutes a relevant information, because it enhances the understanding of the problem, outlining parameters for planning the prevention and health promotion in this population. This study aims to describe mortality from external causes occurred among the elderly in the state of Paraná from 2001 to 2010. The research was conducted by DATASUS database, where all deaths from external causes in the elderly in the period 2001 to 2010 were collected. Among the deaths, 66.12% were male, 29.18% were aged 80 and over, and 59.32% occurred in hospitals. The mortality rate from external causes decreased from 2006 to 2009 for both sexes, but there was a growing trend in 2010. Regarding the cause of death according to CID-10, accidents from other external causes of injuries prevailed with 41.57%, and falls account for most deaths. Road accidents appear to 35.8%, and the accidents with pedestrians were the main cause. It is important health professionals are prepared to meet the growing demand of elderly in the community and take specific knowledge about the characteristics of the elderly population and the risks to which it is exposed, in an attempt to improve the implementation of measures of prevention and care