title: Risk Factors for Traumatic Brain Injuries During Falls in Older Persons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify risk factors for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) during falls in older Taiwanese people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case patients consisted of 113 patients aged 60 years or older with a moderate/severe TBI due to a fall. Two control groups: (1) 339 older patients with a soft-tissue injury; and (2) 113 with a mild-TBI due to a fall. Proxies were required to provide information for a considerable number of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matched case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The emergency departments of 3 general hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographic, lifestyle behavior, chronic condition, medication use, functional abilities, and fall-related characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When patients with a soft-tissue injury were assigned to the control group, men were 2.06-fold more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than women. Subjects who took antiarrhythmics within 4 hours of a fall were 2.59-fold more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than those who took none. Subjects who were negotiating stairs and getting in/out of the bed/chair were 3.12-fold and 2.97-fold, respectively, more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than those who fell while walking. Falling backward and sideways was 4.07-fold and 2.30-fold, respectively, more likely to cause a moderate/severe TBI than falling forward. When patients with a mild-TBI were assigned to the control group, results were similar, with the exception that the effect of antiarrhythmic use became nonsignificant and subjects who took 2 or more medications were 3.07-fold more likely to have a moderate/severe TBI than those who took none.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Avoiding a head impact during a backward or sideways fall, reducing unnecessary use of polypharmacy and antiarrhythmics, and maintaining safety during stair negotiation and bed/chair transfer may protect an elderly person from a severe brain injury.
authors: Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Science, Taipei, Taiwan (Ms Hwang); Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (Ms Hwang and Dr Lin); Department of Emergency Medicine, Taichung Branch, Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Dr Cheng); Department of Emergency Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Dr Chien); and Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Dr Yu).
authors: Hei-Fen
authors: HF
authors: Hwang
authors: Chui-Hsuan
authors: CH
authors: Cheng
authors: Ding-Kuo
authors: DK
authors: Chien
authors: Wen-Yu
authors: WY
authors: Yu
authors: Mau-Roung
authors: MR
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors