The epidemiology of domestic injurious falls in a community dwelling elderly population: an outgrowing economic burden.
In Italy, more than 3 million people annually sustain a domestic injury; the elderly experience it the most. From a healthcare perspective, elderly falls are a major clinical issue with an outgrowing socioeconomic burden. The aim of the study was to evaluate the epidemiology of injurious falls in a community dwelling population, admitted to the emergency room (ER) because of a domestic injury, to assess the socioeconomic burden. Seventy-four hospitalized patients among 227 were examined. Falls represented the main cause of admittance to the ER; the average cost for fall-related hospitalization was of €5479.09.
Sartini
M
M
Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Via Pastore 1, Genoa, Italy. sartini@unige.it
Cristina
M L
ML
Spagnolo
A M
AM
Cremonesi
P
P
Costaguta
C
C
Monacelli
F
F
Garau
J
J
Odetti
P
P
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male