Demographic differences in injuries among the elderly: an analysis of emergency department visits.
BACKGROUND
An understanding of demographic differences in injury types among the elderly will help in targeting interventions.


METHODS
Rates were calculated from the 1997 to 1999 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys by dividing the estimated number of visits by census population estimates. Age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratios were calculated to facilitate comparison between genders and between races.


RESULTS
Although men had fewer fractures than expected on the basis of the rate for women (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.57), they had more open wounds (standardized morbidity ratio = 1.785, p < 0.001). Blacks had fewer fractures than expected, based on the rates for whites (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.601, p = 0.004) but had higher visit rates than expected for less severe injuries such as contusions, strains, and sprains.


CONCLUSIONS
The trends noted in the present analysis suggest interventions for improved machinery safety targeted at elderly men and a continuing focus on access to primary care for minority elderly.
Schwartz
Skai W
SW
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. sschwart@hsc.usf.edu
Rosenberg
Deborah M
DM
Wang
Chen Pin
CP
Sanchez-Anguiano
Aurora
A
Ahmed
Shahbaz
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001741:Black or African American