Highlights
- •This study focused on location in the home where fall-related traumatic brain injury in the elderly occurs.
- •The oldest group (age 85 and/or over) was more associated with in-hospital mortality than the young-old (age 65 to 74).
- •In the oldest group, bathroom, stairs, and outdoor space were more dangerous than room, living room, and kitchen.
Abstract
Background
People older than 65 years tend to have traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) more frequently
and have a higher mortality rate after TBI than younger individuals. The aim of this
study was to determine the effects of age on in-hospital mortality among patients
who had fall-related TBIs at home, emphasizing the effect of specific locations in
the house on the outcome.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Emergency Department-based Injury
In-Depth Surveillance (EDIIS) database in South Korea. Patients aged 65 years or older
with a slip or fall injury, accidental injury at home, and no major diagnosis other
than TBI were included. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Subgroup analysis
was conducted to determine the effect of locations on the relationship between age
and in-hospital mortality.
Results
Of the 2,571,442 patients in the EDIIS database, 9,747 were included in this study.
The most common injury location was room or bedroom (29.1%), followed by living room
or kitchen (23.0%), bathroom (20.2%), stairs (15.8%), and outdoor spaces of the house
(11.9%). There was a significant association between increased in-hospital mortality
and oldest old age. The stairs or outdoor spaces of the house was significantly associated
with in-hospital mortality compared to rooms inside the house. The oldest age group
showed a higher association with in-hospital mortality than the young-old group, especially
in the bathroom, stairs, and outdoor spaces of the house.
Conclusions
Elderly individuals over the age of 85 are the most vulnerable to fall-related TBI
mortality at home. A fall prevention strategy for the oldest-old is needed, especially
for the bathroom, stairs, and the ancillary space outside the house.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 23, 2022
Accepted:
July 21,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
