Societal consequences of falls in the older population: injuries, healthcare costs, and long-term reduced quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Fall incidents are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. The aim of this cohort study was to determine the incidence, costs, and quality of life for fall-related injuries in the older Dutch population presenting at the emergency department.


METHODS
Data on fall-related injuries in persons aged 65 years or older were retrieved from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System, which records injuries treated at the emergency department, and a patient follow-up survey conducted between 2003 and 2007. Injury incidence, discharge rates, healthcare costs, and quality of life measures were calculated.


RESULTS
Fall-related injuries were to the upper or lower limb in 70% of cases and consisted mainly of fractures (60%), superficial injuries (21%), and open wounds (8%). Falls led to a total healthcare cost of €474.4 million, which represents 21% of total healthcare expenses due to injuries. Both admitted and nonadmitted patients reported a reduced quality of life up to 9 months after the injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Fall-related injuries in older adults are age and gender related, leading to high healthcare consumption, costs, and long-term reduced quality of life. Further implementation of falls prevention strategies is needed to control the burden of fall-related injuries in the aging population.
Department of Surgery-Traumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Klaas A
KA
Hartholt
Ed F
EF
van Beeck
Suzanne
S
Polinder
Nathalie
N
van der Velde
Esther M M
EM
van Lieshout
Martien J M
MJ
Panneman
Tischa J M
TJ
van der Cammen
Peter
P
Patka
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy