Citation

Craig J, Murray A, Mitchell S, Clark S, Saunders L, Burleigh L. Scott. Med. J. 2013; 58(4): 198-203.

Affiliation

Project Director, York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Royal Society of Medicine Press)

DOI

10.1177/0036933013507848

PMID

24215036

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Estimate costs for health and social care services in managing older people in the community who fall. METHOD AND RESULTS: Analyses of predominantly national databases using cost of illness methodologies. In Scotland, 294,000 (34%) of people over 65 years and living in the community fall at least once a year. Of these 20%, almost 60,000 people contacted a medical service for assistance. There were almost 30,000 attendances at GP practices, over 36,100 calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service and 46,816 people presenting at A&E, with 16,549 admitted, 30% with a hip fracture. Mortality was high, 7% during the hospital stay, rising to over 12% at 1 year. Over 20% of patients were unable to return to their homes. Associated costs were over £470 million, with 60% incurred by social services, mainly providing long-term care. Cost per person falling was over £1720, rising to over £8600 for those seeking medical assistance. A hip fracture admission cost £39,490, compared with £21,960 for other falls-related admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Transparent, robust cost information demonstrates the substantial burden of falls for health and social care services and should be a driver for implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce falls.

Language: en