Characteristics and outcomes of older adults presented to Spanish emergency departments after a fall.

PURPOSE

To study patient profile, fall-related characteristics and immediate outcomes according to age and to determine the effect of age in the outcomes among older patients presenting to ED after a fall.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of the FALL-ER registry that included patients aged ≥ 65 years old that presented to five Spanish EDs after a fall. Patients were classified into three age categories, and demographic, comorbidity, chronic medication, fall-related characteristics, health care resources and immediate outcomes data were analysed.

RESULTS

We included 1610 patients, 541 (28%) aged 65-74, 647 (40.2%) aged 74-84 and 512 (31.8%) aged ≥ 85 years old. Indoor falls, with no witnesses, at night and due to non-identified causes were significantly more likely among the oldest old. Medications related to risk of falling and antithrombotic therapy significantly increased with age category. Physical, functional and psychological consequences and healthcare resource use increased significantly with age group. Age was independently associated with severe injury (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.01-1.04), fear of falling (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.01-1.04) and acute functional impairment (adjusted OR 1.02; IC 95% 1.00-1.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Indoor falls, with no witnesses, at night and due to non-identified causes were significantly more likely among the oldest old. The probability of presenting with severe injury, fear of falling and acute functional impairment increases with age.