@article{ref1,
title="A population-based study of 2347 fall-related injuries among older people in a Finnish emergency department",
journal="European geriatric medicine",
year="2020",
author="Soukola, Saara K. and Jämsen, Esa R. K. and Pauniaho, Satu-Liisa K. and Ukkonen, Mika T.",
volume="11",
number="2",
pages="315-320",
abstract="PURPOSE: Fall-related injuries are a significant cause of morbidity, mortality and functional decline among older people. The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence of fall-related emergency department (ED) visits and compare the characteristics of single and recurrent fallers in a population-based sample. <br><br>METHODS: Consecutive patients aged ≥ 80 years and living in the Tampere city region who visited collaborative emergency department within a two-year study period (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016) due to fall-related injury were included. The incidence of fall-related injuries and recurrent falls was calculated using population statistics. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 6915 ≥ 80-year-old patients visited our ED 17,769 times during the study period. Thirteen percent of these visits (n = 2347, median 87 years, 80-103 years; 74% female) were fall-related. The incidence of fall-related ED visits increased from 94/1000 person-years to 171/1000 among those aged 80-89 years and ≥ 90 years, respectively. Twenty-four percent of patients had recurrent falls (range 2-5) during the observational period. Twenty-five percent of those discharged home had a subsequent fall-related injury within one month after the index visit. The distribution of diagnoses was similar among those with single and recurrent falls. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Fall-related injuries are a significant health issue. Almost one in eight of all ED visits were fall-related, and 24% of patients had recurrent fall-related injuries. The risk of subsequent injury was high during the first month after the first injury, emphasizing the need to intervene with the fall risk promptly.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1878-7649",
doi="10.1007/s41999-020-00288-0",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41999-020-00288-0"
}