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The Incidence and Burden of Ladder, Structure, and Scaffolding Falls
Author(s) -
Diggs Brian S.,
Lenfesty Barbara,
Arthur Melanie,
Hedges Jerris R.,
Newgard Craig D.,
Mullins Richard J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
academic emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.221
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1553-2712
pISSN - 1069-6563
DOI - 10.1197/j.aem.2004.10.028
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , geometry , mathematics
Objectives: The national morbidity and mortality associated with falls from a height is incompletely described. The authors estimated the rates of injury, hospitalization, and mortality due to these falls for subgroups of the U.S. population. Methods: Administrative databases (1995–2000) provided national samples of patients treated for injuries following a fall from a height (ICD‐9‐CM E‐codes E881.0, E881.1, or E882). Inpatient data are from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, and emergency department data are from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Results: A total of 347,484 (95% confidence interval = 308,417 to 386,551) emergency department presentations occur annually for injuries following a fall. Hospitalized patients older than 75 years of age had a 3.3% case fatality, and 42% were discharged to a skilled nursing facility. For patients older than 55 years of age, 86% of falls were not work related. Conclusions: Ladder and structure falls by elders are a substantial emergency department problem warranting thorough clinical evaluation and injury prevention efforts.