Epidemiological characteristics of fall injuries and their related outcome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A descriptive study from a Level-I trauma center.

Autor: Alghnam S; Population Health Section, King Abdullah International Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Alsayyari AS; Population Health Section, King Abdullah International Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Towhari JA; College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Alsayer RM; Department of Health Sciences, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences College, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Almohaimeed MY; Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center, MLSD, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Aldebasi MH; College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Albabtin IT; Department of Surgery, NGHA Hosptial, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of family & community medicine [J Family Community Med] 2020 May-Aug; Vol. 27 (2), pp. 114-119. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jun 03.
DOI: 10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_245_19
Abstrakt: Background: Falls are the leading cause of admissions for trauma emergency in Saudi Arabia. However, the scarcity of evidence of what the burden of falls is locally limits the understanding of the underlying risk factors and hinders planning of effective prevention. The objective of this study was to describe patients' characteristics and health outcomes after hospital admissions as a result of a fall injury.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using a trauma registry from a level-I trauma center in Riyadh. All patients admitted as a result of a fall between 2001 and 2018 were included ( n = 4825). Variables included were demographics, mechanism of fall, length of hospital stay, surgery, intensive care unit admission, intubation rate, and severity of the injury. For continuous variables, means and standard deviations were calculated, whereas, frequencies and proportions were used to describe categorical.
Results: Majority of the patients (63.6%) were male and about 39% of the sample were children. The most common mechanism of falls was standing (52.6%) followed by slipping (23.0%). Overall, limb fractures were the most common injury (73.3%). While upper limb fractures were more common in children (44.5%; P < 0.01), lower limb fractures were more prevalent among the older patients (70.2%; P < 0.01). Fall injuries in the elderly were significantly associated with higher mortality (3.5%; P < 0.01).
Conclusion: This study highlights the significant burden fall injuries impose on population health. Prevention programs may use these findings to guide and tailor interventions for specific age groups. Furthermore, this study underlines the need for a national recording system for injuries to guide policymakers in evidence-based decisions.
Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.
(Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family and Community Medicine.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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