title: The cost of fall related presentations to the ED: a prospective, in-person, patient-tracking analysis of health resource utilization.
abstract: We prospectively collected data on elderly fallers to estimate the total cost of a fall requiring an Emergency Department presentation. Using data collected on 102 falls, we found the average cost per fall causing an Emergency Department presentation of $11,408. When hospitalization was required, the average cost per fall was $29,363.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  For elderly persons, falls are a major source of mortality, morbidity, and disability. Previous Canadian cost estimates of seniors' falls were based upon administrative data that has been shown to underestimate the incidence of falls. Our objective was to use a labor-intensive, direct observation patient-tracking method to accurately estimate the total cost of falls among seniors who presented to a major urban Emergency Department (ED) in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively collected data from seniors (>70 years) presenting to the Vancouver General Hospital ED after a fall. We excluded individuals who where cognitively impaired or unable to read/write English. Data were collected on the care provided including physician assessments/consultations, radiology and laboratory tests, ED/hospital time, rehabilitation facility time, and in-hospital procedures. Unit costs of health resources were taken from a fully allocated hospital cost model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected on 101 fall-related ED presentations. The most common diagnoses were fractures (n = 33) and lacerations (n = 11). The mean cost of a fall causing ED presentation was $11,408 (SD: $19,655). Thirty-eight fallers had injuries requiring hospital admission with an average total cost of $29,363 (SD: $22,661). Hip fractures cost $39,507 (SD: $17,932). Among the 62 individuals not admitted to the hospital, the average cost of their ED visit was $674 (SD: $429).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the growing population of Canadian seniors, falls have substantial costs. With the cost of a fall-related hospitalization approaching $30,000, there is an increased need for fall prevention programs.
authors: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Woolcott
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Khan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mitrovic
authors: A H
authors: AH
authors: Anis
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Marra
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies