scholarly journals Head Trauma from Falling Increases Subsequent Emergency Department Visits More Than Other Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 870-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren T. Southerland ◽  
Julie A. Stephens ◽  
Shari Robinson ◽  
James Falk ◽  
Laura Phieffer ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-104
Author(s):  
Pei-Chao Lin ◽  
Li-Chan Lin ◽  
Hsiu-Fen Hsieh ◽  
Yao-Mei Chen ◽  
Pi-Ling Chou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectives:The objectives of this study were to investigate the primary diagnoses and outcomes of emergency department visits in older people with dementia and to compare these parameters with those in older adults without dementia.Design and Setting:This hospital-based retrospective study retrieved patient records from a hospital research database, which included the outpatient and inpatient claims of two hospitals.Participants:The patient records were retrieved from the two hospitals in an urban setting. The inclusion criteria were all patients aged 65 and older who had attended the two hospitals as an outpatient or inpatient between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2016. Patients with dementia were identified to have at least three reports of diagnostic codes, either during outpatient visits, during emergency department visits, or in hospitalized database records. The other patients were categorized as patients without dementia.Measurements:The primary diagnosis during the emergency department visit, cost of emergency department treatment, cost of hospital admission, length of hospital stay, and diagnosis of death were collected.Results:A total of 149,203 outpatients and inpatients aged 65 and older who were admitted to the two hospitals were retrieved. The rate of emergency department visits in patients with dementia (23.2%) was lower than that in those without dementia (48.6%). The most frequent primary reason for emergency department visits and the main cause of patient death was pneumonia. Patients with dementia in the emergency department had higher hospital admission rates and longer hospital stays; however, the cost of treatment did not show a significant difference between the two groups.Conclusions:Future large and prospective studies should explore the severity of disease in older people with dementia and compare results with older adults without dementia in the emergency department.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S857-S857
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Jacobs ◽  
Rebecca Schwei ◽  
Scott Hetzel ◽  
Jane Mahoney ◽  
KyungMann Kim

Abstract The majority of older adults want to live and age in their communities. Some community-based organizations (CBOs) have initiated peer-to-peer support services to promote aging in place but the effectiveness of these programs is not clear. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of a community-designed and implemented peer-to-peer support program vs. access to standard community services, in promoting health and wellness in vulnerable older adult populations. We partnered with three CBOs, one each in California, Florida, and New York, to enroll adults 65 > years of age who received peer support and matched control participants (on age, gender, and race/ethnicity) in an observational study. We followed participants over 12 months, collecting data on self-reported urgent care and emergency department visits and hospitalizations. In order to account for the lack of randomization, we used a propensity score method to compare outcomes between the two groups. We enrolled 222 older adults in the peer-to-peer group and 234 in the control group. After adjustment, we found no differences between the groups in the incidence of hospitalization, urgent and emergency department visits, and composite outcome of any health care utilization. The incidence of urgent care visits was statistically significantly greater in the standard community service group than in the peer-to-peer group. Given that the majority of older adults and their families want them to age in place, the question of how to do this is highly relevant. Peer-to-peer services may provide some benefit to older adults in regard to their health care utilization.


2020 ◽  
pp. 155982762094218
Author(s):  
Briana L. Moreland ◽  
Ramakrishna Kakara ◽  
Yara K. Haddad ◽  
Iju Shakya ◽  
Gwen Bergen

Introduction. Falls among older adults (age ≥65) are a common and costly health issue. Knowing where falls occur and whether this location differs by sex and age can inform prevention strategies. Objective. To determine where injurious falls that result in emergency department (ED) visits commonly occur among older adults in the United States, and whether these locations differ by sex and age. Methods. Using 2015 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program data we reviewed narratives for ED patients aged ≥65 who had an unintentional fall as the primary cause of injury. Results. More fall-related ED visits (71.6%) resulted from falls that occurred indoors. A higher percentage of men’s falls occurred outside (38.3%) compared to women’s (28.4%). More fall-related ED visits were due to falls at home (79.2%) compared to falls not at home (20.8%). The most common locations for a fall at home were the bedroom, bathroom, and stairs. Conclusion. The majority of falls resulting in ED visits among older adults occurred indoors and varied by sex and age. Knowing common locations of injurious falls can help older adults and caregivers prioritize home modifications. Understanding sex and age differences related to fall location can be used to develop targeted prevention messages.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S495-S495
Author(s):  
Namkee G Choi ◽  
Diana M DiNitto ◽  
Mark E Kunik

Abstract Fall injuries and related healthcare use among older adults are increasing in the US. Based on the 2013-2017 US National Health Interview Survey public use data, this study examined fall injury characteristics that are associated with emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations among those aged ≥60 years who received medical attention for their fall injuries within a 91-day reference period (N=1,840). Our findings show that nearly a third of these older adults received care from emergency medical services (EMS), presumably for a “lift assist” to get off the floor and/or for ED or hospital transport; a little more than one-third had an ED visit only; and a little less than a fifth had an overnight hospital stay. Multivariable analysis showed that hip and head injuries, face injuries, and broken bones/fractures (from any type of injury) were likelier causes of hospitalization than injuries to other parts of the body. Fall injuries sustained inside the home, falls from loss of balance/dizziness, and living alone were also more likely to result in hospitalization, while fall injuries that occurred away from home and those with lung disease and memory problems were associated with higher risk of ED use only. These healthcare use data indicate the significant toll that fall injuries exact upon older adults and healthcare system. Fall prevention programs should target risk factors that are specific to serious injuries and be made more accessible. Strategies for implementing scalable, adaptable, and measurable fall prevention models by EMS providers and ED staff are also needed.


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