title: A Population-Based Study Examining Injury in Older Adults with and without Dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the incidence of and risk factors for injuries in older adults with and without dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western Australian Data Linkage System (WADLS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases included 29,671 (47.9%) older adults aged 50 and older with an index hospital admission for dementia between 2001 and 2011. Comparison participants without dementia included a random sample of 32,277 (52.1%) older adults aged 50 and older from the state electoral roll.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital admission to a metropolitan tertiary hospital for at least 24 hours with an injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age-standardized all-cause injury rates for older adults with dementia (≥60) were 117 per 1,000 population and 24 per 1,000 population for older adults without dementia. Falls caused the majority of injuries for both groups (dementia, 94%; without dementia, 87%), followed by transport-related injuries and burns. Multivariate modeling found that older adults with a diagnosis of dementia had more than twice the risk of hospital admission for an injury than those without dementia (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.96-2.15). Other significant risk factors for a hospital admission for injury were age 85 and older (IRR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.13-1.81), being unmarried (IRR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03-1.12), and a history of falls (IRR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). Women were at lower risk then men of a hospital admission due to an injury (IRR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.87-0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults with dementia are at greater risk of a hospital admission for an injury. Multifactorial injury prevention programs would benefit older adults with and without dementia, especially those aged 85 and older, living alone, and with a history of previous falls.
authors.affiliation: Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Lynn B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Meuleners
authors.affiliation: Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hobday
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012847:Single Person; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: dementia; falls; injury; older adults