https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2014.4708

A multicenter retrospective study on falls in elderly population. Epidemiology and impact on hospital workload in two Emergency Departments of Northern Italy

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2014)
Submitted: 16 September 2014
Accepted: 19 November 2014
Published: 19 December 2014
falls, elderly, hospitalization, fractures, frailty
Abstract Views: 1266
PDF: 576
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Authors

Gianfranco Cervellin
gcervellin@ao.pr.it
Emergency Department, Parma University Hospital, Italy.
Francesca Montali
Clinical Governance, Risk Management, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Parma University Hospital, Italy.
Giovanna Campaniello
Clinical Governance, Risk Management, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Parma University Hospital, Italy.
Mario Benatti
Emergency Department, Parma University Hospital, Italy.
Roberto Fiorini
Emergency Department, Vaio Hospital, Fidenza, Italy.
Gianni Rastelli
Emergency Department, Vaio Hospital, Fidenza, Italy.
Aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of falls in subjects aged ≥65 years in Parma Province (Northern Italy), and the burden of fall-related hospitalizations. All the Emergency Department (ED) visits for domestic or trivial falls were retrieved from the database of the two EDs of Parma Province during 2013. All cases were classified according to age and gender. Out of 129,898 total ED visits, 3720 (2.9%) were related to trivial falls in patients aged ≥65 years. Females accounted for 2648 visits and males for 1072. The absolute number of visits due to falls increased with age in both genders, with a peak between 80 and 84 yrs. When related with the actual number of residents by age groups, females showed a continuous increase, peaking at age >100 yrs, and males a continuous increase, peaking at age 95-99 yrs. Of these patients, 963 (25.9%) needed hospitalization, 605 in the orthopedic ward, 342 in medical wards, and 16 in specialist surgical units. In conclusion, falls represent a major cause of morbidity in the elderly in Northern Italy, representing 13.3% of the ED visits for people aged ≥65, with a high impact on hospital workload.

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Gianfranco Cervellin, Emergency Department, Parma University Hospital
Emergency Department
Francesca Montali, Clinical Governance, Risk Management, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Parma University Hospital
Clinical Governance and Risk Management
Giovanna Campaniello, Clinical Governance, Risk Management, Quality and Accreditation Unit, Parma University Hospital
Clinical Governance and Risk Management
Mario Benatti, Emergency Department, Parma University Hospital

Emergency

Roberto Fiorini, Emergency Department, Vaio Hospital, Fidenza
Emergency
Gianni Rastelli, Emergency Department, Vaio Hospital, Fidenza
Emergency

How to Cite

Cervellin, G., Montali, F., Campaniello, G., Benatti, M., Fiorini, R., & Rastelli, G. (2014). A multicenter retrospective study on falls in elderly population. Epidemiology and impact on hospital workload in two Emergency Departments of Northern Italy. Emergency Care Journal, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2014.4708

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