|
1
|
Zayat MN, Griend MV, Flesher N, Lightwine K, Ablah E, Okut H, Haan JM. Falls Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to a Pre-pandemic Period: A Case-Control Study. Am Surg 2023; 89:5988-5995. [PMID: 37285470 PMCID: PMC10251062 DOI: 10.1177/00031348231180919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted older adults admitted to the hospital with fall-related injuries. This research sought to determine if there was a difference in patient characteristics and hospital outcomes among older adults with fall-related injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a non-pandemic period. METHODS A retrospective chart review of patients 65 years or older admitted for traumatic falls before and during COVID-19 was undertaken. Data abstracted included demographics, fall details, injury data, and hospital course. RESULTS Of 1598 patients, 50.5% presented during COVID-19 (cases), and 49.5% presented pre-pandemic (controls). Fewer cases fell in rural areas (28.6% vs 34.1%, P = .018) and were transferred from outside hospitals (32.1% vs 38.2%, P = .011). More cases experienced alcohol (4.6% vs 2.4%, P = .017) and substance use disorders (1.4% vs .4%, P = .029). Fewer cases had subdural hemorrhages (11.8% vs 16.4%, P = .007), and more had pneumothoraxes (3.5% vs 1.8%, P = .032). More patients admitted during COVID-19 experienced acute respiratory failure (2.0% vs .0%, P < .001), hypoxia (1.5% vs .3%, P = .005), and delirium (6.3% vs 1.0%, P < .001). Fewer cases were discharged to skilled nursing facilities (50.8% vs 57.3%, P = .009) and more to home with services (13.1% vs 8.3%, P = .002). DISCUSSION This study suggested there was a similar frequency of presentation for falls among older adults during the two study periods. Older adults with fall-related injuries experienced differences in presenting comorbidities, injury patterns, complications, and discharge locations during the study periods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marisa-Nicole Zayat
- Department of Population Health, The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Micah Vander Griend
- Department of Population Health, The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Nathan Flesher
- Department of Population Health, The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Kelly Lightwine
- Departments of Trauma Services, Ascension Via Christi Hospital Saint Francis, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ablah
- Department of Population Health, The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Hayrettin Okut
- Department of Population Health, The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - James M. Haan
- Department of Population Health, The University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA
- Departments of Trauma Services, Ascension Via Christi Hospital Saint Francis, Wichita, KS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Chang H, Min JY, Yoo D, Lee SU, Hwang SY, Yoon H, Cha WC, Shin TG, Jo IJ, Kim T. National Surveillance of Injury in the Republic of Korea: Increased Injury Vulnerability in the Late Middle Age. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031210. [PMID: 33572916 PMCID: PMC7908217 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Surveillance of injury patterns and comparisons among different age groups help develop a better understanding of recent injury trends and early prevention. This study conducted a national surveillance of injury by age group. Data were collected retrospectively from Emergency Department-Based Injury In-Depth Surveillance (EDIIS) in South Korea, between January 2011 and December 2017. Patients were divided into the following four groups by age: Group 1–18 to 34 years, Group 2–35 to 49 years, Group 3–50 to 64 years, and Group 4—≥65 years. A total of 1,221,746 patients were included in the study. Findings revealed that, each year, the injury rate increased in the population aged ≥65 years. The place and mechanism of injury in Group 3 were similar to those in younger age groups, while injury outcomes and injured body parts were similar to those in Group 4. Further, hospital admission rate, ICU admission rate, hospital death, traumatic brain injury, and injury severity increased with an increase in age. In our study, each age group showed diverse characteristics pertaining to the mechanism, place, time, and outcomes of injuries. Interestingly, Group 3, which represented the late middle age, exhibited increased vulnerability to injury, and emerged as a gray zone between the young and old age groups. Therefore, different injury prevention methods are needed for each age group. Specifically, early prevention methods need to be implemented from the late middle age to improve the old age group’s injury outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hansol Chang
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Korea;
| | - Ji Young Min
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Korea;
| | - Dajeong Yoo
- Samsung Medical Center, Research Institute of Future Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea;
| | - Se Uk Lee
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
| | - Sung Yeon Hwang
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
| | - Hee Yoon
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
| | - Won Chul Cha
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Korea;
- Health Information and Strategy Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Tae Gun Shin
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
| | - Ik Joon Jo
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
| | - Taerim Kim
- Samsung Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea; (H.C.); (S.U.L.); (S.Y.H.); (H.Y.); (W.C.C.); (T.G.S.); (I.J.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-3410-2053; Fax: +82-2-3410-0049
| |
Collapse
|