Risk of Fall-Related Injury due to Adverse Weather Events, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2006-2011

Gevitz, Kathryn; Madera, Robbie; Newbern, E. Claire; Lojo, José; Johnson, Caroline C.

doi:10.1177/0033354917706968

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…Slipping on ice-covered surfaces was the most frequent fall injury in the working and elderly age groups, which is in concordance with studies carried out in Norway, Finland, the UK, the USA, and Iran (Bulajic-Kopjar 2006;Flinkkilä et al 2011;Mardani-Kivi et al 2014;Gevitz et al 2017;Ralis 1981). These findings suggest that preventive measures in Shenkursk District and settings with similar climatic Other factors* 8 (9.5) 14 (4.8) 56 (7.6) 26 (5.9) *Combines categories accounting for < 5% of observations in all age groups ** p-values for group comparisons on all presented characteristics are < 0.001 conditions should primarily target removing ice and preventing slipping on icy surfaces, for example, by spreading sand and wearing shoes with high-friction outsoles or spikes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Mechanisms of accidental fall injuries and involved injury factors: a registry-based study

et al. 2020

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Background: Falls are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, but fall injury circumstances differ by age. We studied the circumstances of accidental fall injuries by age in Shenkursk District, Northwest Russia, using the data from the population-based Shenkursk Injury Registry. Methods: Data on accidental fall injuries (hereafter: fall injuries) occurring in January 2015-June 2018 were extracted from the Shenkursk Injury Registry (N = 1551) and categorized by age group (0-6, 7-17, 18-59, and 60+ years). The chi-square test and ANOVA were used to compare descriptive injury variables across age groups, and a two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify homogeneous groups of fall injuries by preceding circumstances. Results: Half of recorded fall injuries in the 0-6 year age group occurred inside dwellings (49%). The largest cluster of falls (64%) mainly included climbing up or down on home furnishings. In the 7-17 year age group, public outdoor residential areas were the most common fall injury site (29%), and the largest cluster of falls (37%) involved physical exercise and sport or play equipment. Homestead lands or areas near a dwelling were the most typical fall injury sites in the age groups 18-59 and 60+ years (31 and 33%, respectively). Most frequently, fall injury circumstances in these groups involved slipping on ice-covered surfaces (32% in 18-59 years, 37% in 60+ years). Conclusion: The circumstances of fall injuries in the Shenkursk District varied across age groups. This knowledge can be used to guide age-specific preventive strategies in the study area and similar settings.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Mechanisms of accidental fall injuries and involved injury factors: a registry-based study

et al. 2020

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“…However, our data revealed no difference in in-hospital mortality post-hurricane. Numerous research studies state that falls are characterized by high medical and social costs, and that after a devastating event, those costs are likely to increase (Florence et al 2018;Gevitz et al 2017). Nonetheless, this study found no significant difference in medical costs after the hurricane.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 66%

Epidemiology of traumatic falls after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico

et al. 2020

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Background: Hurricanes are among the most devastating natural disasters, playing a significant role in public health. Currently, the epidemiology of fall-related injuries after the occurrence of a tropical storm is not well described. This study aims to compare the demographical patterns, clinical profile, hospital course, and costs of patients admitted to the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital before and after Hurricane Maria. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to compare fall-related injuries after the hurricane (September 20, 2017-January 20, 2018) with a control period (same period in 2014-2016). Comparison between the groups was done using chi-square, Mann-Whitney test, and logistical regression. Results: After the hurricane, there was an increase in the proportion of fall-related admissions in subjects aged 40-64 years (39.2% vs. 50.6%) and a decrease among those aged 18-39 years (16.0% vs. 5.9%), when compared with the previous years. A greater proportion of patients presented with work related injuries (3.9% vs. 9.4%). No significant differences were identified for sex, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, and hospital outcomes (hospital and intensive care unit days, mechanical ventilation, and mortality). Intracranial injuries were marginally higher post-Maria (p = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, during the post-Maria period, an increased risk of fall-related injuries was observed among subjects ≥40 years (OR: 3.20) and injuries related to recovery work (OR: 2.64) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study shows that there is an increased risk of fall-related injuries among middle-aged individuals after a hurricane, causing significant changes in epidemiology. This study helps to elucidate the health consequences of falls and, in doing so, improves healthcare preparedness, interventions, and planning for future natural disasters.

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“…Some studies associated the increase in fall-related injury rates with winter harsh weather conditions 20 , 27 , 28 . In Pennsylvania, the largest demand for emergency services – mainly for falls, accounting for 8% of cases 28 , – occurred two days after snow or ice storm. In Canada, seasonal peaks of hip fractures 27 (12%) occurred mainly within four to five days after the hail and snow warnings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase in fall-related hospitalization, mortality, and lethality among older adults in Brazil

et al. 2020

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OBJECTIVE: To estimate the trends of fall-related hospitalization, mortality, and lethality among older adults in Brazil and regions. METHODS: This is a descriptive study based on data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System. We included records of every older adult, aged 60 years or older, hospitalized for accidental fall from January, 1998 to November, 2015 in all Brazilian regions. We selected the codes E885, E886, E880, E884, E884 from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, and W01, W03, W10, W17, W18 from the 10th revision, and calculated fall-related hospitalization and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants, as well as lethality. To estimate trends, we applied the Prais-Winsten regression for time series analysis. RESULTS: During the period, 1,192,829 fall-related hospitalizations occurred, among which 54,673 had a fatal outcome; lethality was 4.5%. Hospitalization rates showed upward trends, with seasonality, in Brazil (11%), and in the Northeast (44%), Midwest (13%), and South regions (14%). The North showed a decreasing hospitalization rate (48%), and the Southeast a stationary one (3%). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, fall-related hospitalizations, mortality, and lethality among older adults showed an upward trend from 1998 to 2015, with seasonal peaks in the second and third quarters. Considering we are in plain demographic transition, to improve hospital healthcare and encourage falls prevention programs among older adults is essential.

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Risk of Fall-Related Injury due to Adverse Weather Events, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2006-2011

Cited by 26 publications

References 19 publications

Mechanisms of accidental fall injuries and involved injury factors: a registry-based study

Mechanisms of accidental fall injuries and involved injury factors: a registry-based study

Epidemiology of traumatic falls after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico

Increase in fall-related hospitalization, mortality, and lethality among older adults in Brazil

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