Severe occupational injuries among older workers: demographic factors, time of injury, place and mechanism of injury, length of stay, and cost data.
Between 2002 and 2012, the number of individuals > 55 years of age in the workforce is projected to climb by approximately 50%. Few studies have substantiated that severe occupational injury to older workers is a significant problem. To identify the variables related to traumatic injuries of older workers, data were abstracted retrospectively from a regional trauma center database, including demographic and injury characteristics, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and cost. The results showed that older workers had higher fatality rates than younger workers. As age increased, the Injury Severity Score also increased. Most injuries were the result of falls, with orthopedic injuries being the most common type of injury. Patients spent an average of 6 days in the ICU at a cost of > 4920 US dollars/day. By identifying the characteristics associated with older workers' severe occupational injuries, further research and better industry programs targeting this group can be implemented.
Grandjean
Cynthia K
CK
School of Nursing, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA. grandjean@cua.edu
McMullen
Patricia C
PC
Miller
Kenneth P
KP
Howie
William O
WO
Ryan
Kevin
K
Myers
Alice
A
Dutton
Richard
R
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology