Abstract
Since interpersonal violence was recognized as a public health problem in the 1970s, much attention has focused on preventing violence among young persons and intimate partners (1). Violence directed against older adults (≥60 years) has received less attention, despite the faster growth of this population than that of younger groups (2). Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) and the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), CDC analyzed rates of nonfatal assaults and homicides against older adults during 2002-2016. Across the 15-year period, the nonfatal assault rate increased 75.4% (from 77.7 to 136.3 per 100,000) among men, and from 2007 to 2016, increased 35.4% (from 43.8 to 59.3) among women. From 2010 to 2016, the homicide rate increased among men by 7.1%, and a 19.3% increase was observed from 2013 to 2016 among men aged 60-69 years. Growth in both the older adult population and the rates of violence against this group, especially among men, suggests an important need for violence prevention strategies (3). Focusing prevention efforts for this population will require improved understanding of magnitude and trends in violence against older adults.
Highlights
The estimated nonfatal assault rate increased 75.4% among men (2002–2016) and 35.4% among women (2007–2016)
No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed
Summary
The highest rates of nonfatal assaults (147.4) and homicides (3.58) were perpetrated against men aged [60–69] years. For the entire 15-year period, the nonfatal assault rate increased 75.4% (from 77.7 to 136.3) among men, and from 2007 to 2016, 35.4% Among adults aged [60–69] years, the nonfatal assault rate against men increased 89.2% (100.5 to 190.1) and against women, increased 37.5% (55.0 to 75.6) from 2002 to 2016. From 2002 to 2014, the overall estimated homicide rate declined 12.8% (from 2.42 to 2.11) (Table) (Figure 2) and declined 9.9% among women across the entire study period. Homicide rates declined in all other age groups of men, and among women aged ≥80 years the rate declined 11.6% from 2002 to 2016. Other homicide mechanisms included cutting/piercing (14.8%) and suffocation (6.4%)
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