North West Public Health Observatory, Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
Environ Health. 2011 Jun 17;10:60. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-10-60.
In the UK, the 2009/10 winter was characterised by sustained low temperatures; grit stocks became depleted and surfaces left untreated. We describe the relationship between temperature and emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England, identify the age and gender of those most likely to be admitted, and estimate the inpatient costs of these admissions during the 2009/10 winter.
Hospital Episode Statistics were used to identify episodes of emergency admissions for falls on snow and ice during winters 2005/06 to 2009/10; these were plotted against mean winter temperature. By region, the logs of the rates of weekly emergency admissions for falls on snow and ice were plotted against the mean weekly temperature for winters 2005/06 to 2009/10 and a linear regression analysis undertaken. For the 2009/10 winter the number of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice were plotted by age and gender. The inpatient costs of admissions in the 2009/10 winter for falls on snow and ice were calculated using Healthcare Resource Group costs and Admitted Patient Care 2009/10 National Tariff Information.
The number of emergency hospital admissions due to falls on snow and ice varied considerably across years; the number was 18 times greater in 2009/10 (N = 16,064) than in 2007/08 (N = 890). There is an exponential increase [Ln(rate of admissions) = 0.456 - 0.463*(mean weekly temperature)] in the rate of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice as temperature falls. The rate of admissions in 2009/10 was highest among the elderly and particularly men aged 80 and over. The total inpatient cost of falls on snow and ice in the 2009/10 winter was 42 million GBP.
Emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice vary greatly across winters, and according to temperature, age and gender. The cost of these admissions in England in 2009/10 was considerable. With responsibility for health improvement moving to local councils, they will have to balance the cost of public health measures like gritting with the healthcare costs associated with falls. The economic burden of falls on snow and ice is substantial; keeping surfaces clear of snow and ice is a public health priority.
在英国，2009/10 年冬季的特点是持续低温；沙砾库存耗尽，未处理的表面。我们描述了英格兰冬季因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急住院治疗与温度之间的关系，确定了最容易入院的年龄和性别，并估算了 2009/10 年冬季这些入院的住院费用。
使用医院入院统计数据，确定了 2005/06 年至 2009/10 年冬季因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急入院病例；将这些病例与冬季平均温度相对照。按地区划分，将每周因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急入院率的对数与 2005/06 年至 2009/10 年冬季的每周平均温度相对照，并进行线性回归分析。对于 2009/10 年冬季，按年龄和性别划分因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急住院治疗的数量。使用医疗保健资源组成本和 2009/10 年住院患者护理国家关税信息，计算了 2009/10 年冬季因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急住院治疗的住院费用。
因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急住院治疗数量在各年之间差异很大；2009/10 年（N = 16064）是 2007/08 年（N = 890）的 18 倍。随着温度的下降，冰雪滑倒导致的紧急住院治疗率呈指数增长[Ln（入院率）= 0.456-0.463*（每周平均温度）]。2009/10 年的入院率在老年人中最高，尤其是 80 岁及以上的男性。2009/10 年冬季冰雪滑倒的总住院费用为 4200 万英镑。
因冰雪滑倒而导致的紧急住院治疗在各冬季之间差异很大，并且与温度、年龄和性别有关。2009/10 年英格兰的这些入院治疗费用相当可观。随着改善健康的责任转移到地方议会，他们将不得不权衡撒沙砾等公共卫生措施的成本与与跌倒相关的医疗保健成本。冰雪滑倒造成的经济负担相当大；保持表面无冰雪是公共卫生的重点。
