title: Circumstances leading to injurious falls in older men and women in the Netherlands.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fall-induced injuries in persons aged 65 years and older are a major public health problem. Data regarding circumstances leading to specific injuries, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hip fractures in older adults are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the activity distributions leading to indoor and outdoor falls requiring an emergency department (ED) visit, and those resulting in TBIs and hip fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  5880 older adults who visited the ED due to a fall.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data is descriptive and stratified by age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-thirds of all falls occurred indoors. However, there were higher proportions of outdoor falls at ages 65-79 years (48%). Walking up or down stairs (51%) and housekeeping (17%) were the most common indoor activities leading to a TBIs. Walking (42%) and sitting or standing (16%) was the most common indoor activities leading to a hip fracture. The most common outdoor activities were walking (61% for TBIs and 57% for hip fractures) and cycling (10% for TBIs and 24% for hip fractures).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study we found that the indoor activities distribution leading to TBIs and hip fractures differed. Notably, about half of the traumatic brain injuries and hip fractures in men and women aged 65-79 years occurred outdoors. This study provides new insights into patterns leading to injurious falls by age, gender and injury type, and may guide the targeting of falls prevention at specific activities and risk groups, including highly functional older men and women.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery-Traumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.boye@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Nicole D A
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Boyé
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francesco U S
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Mattace-Raso
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van der Velde
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery-Traumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Van Lieshout
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Oscar J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: De Vries
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery-Traumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Klaas A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hartholt
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Albert J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kerver
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, IJsselland Hospital, Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Milko M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bruijninckx
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tischa J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Van der Cammen
authors.affiliation: Department of Accident & Emergency Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patka
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ed F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Van Beeck
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking
keywords: Activity; Circumstances; Elderly; Falls; Hip fractures; Indoor; Outdoor; Season; TBI