TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of unintentional alcohol-related falls on emergency departments
AU - Woods, Cindy
AU - Jones, Rikki
AU - Usher, Kim
N1 - Funding Information:
This paper reports the findings of a research study that adhered to the National Statement on the Conduct of Human Research by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and has been approved by the University of New England Human Research Ethics Committee Approval No. HE18-027. 3
Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU) at Monash University for providing data on Emergency Department presentations for alcohol-related falls.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2019/3
Y1 - 2019/3
N2 - Background: Alcohol is the cause of many injury presentations to the emergency department. There has been little research on alcohol-related falls in the broader adult population, which represent a substantial proportion of the total alcohol-related injury presentations to emergency departments. Methods: A population-based retrospective analysis of public hospital emergency department presentations for Victoria for 2003–2015 was undertaken. Results: Alcohol-related fall presentations have increased by 96% over the 13-year period, a rate of growth exceeding non-alcohol-related falls, all ED presentations, and Victorian population growth. Alcohol-related fall presentations are most prevalent in the 20–24 year age group, and among males. The severity of alcohol-related fall presentations is greater than non-alcohol-related fall presentations, based on triage scale ratings and admission rates, with head injuries being the most frequent type of injury. Conclusions: Public health warnings about the risks of alcohol-related fall injuries and the need to seek medical treatment for head injuries in particular are necessary to raise awareness among younger people. Emergency staff vigilance with neurological assessments is needed for early diagnosis of traumatic brain injury in alcohol-related fall presentations to help prevent adverse outcomes.
AB - Background: Alcohol is the cause of many injury presentations to the emergency department. There has been little research on alcohol-related falls in the broader adult population, which represent a substantial proportion of the total alcohol-related injury presentations to emergency departments. Methods: A population-based retrospective analysis of public hospital emergency department presentations for Victoria for 2003–2015 was undertaken. Results: Alcohol-related fall presentations have increased by 96% over the 13-year period, a rate of growth exceeding non-alcohol-related falls, all ED presentations, and Victorian population growth. Alcohol-related fall presentations are most prevalent in the 20–24 year age group, and among males. The severity of alcohol-related fall presentations is greater than non-alcohol-related fall presentations, based on triage scale ratings and admission rates, with head injuries being the most frequent type of injury. Conclusions: Public health warnings about the risks of alcohol-related fall injuries and the need to seek medical treatment for head injuries in particular are necessary to raise awareness among younger people. Emergency staff vigilance with neurological assessments is needed for early diagnosis of traumatic brain injury in alcohol-related fall presentations to help prevent adverse outcomes.
KW - Accidental falls
KW - Alcohol
KW - Emergency department
KW - Injuries
KW - Observational study
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85057061676&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.auec.2018.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.auec.2018.11.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 30998868
AN - SCOPUS:85057061676
SN - 2589-1375
VL - 22
SP - 22
EP - 27
JO - Australasian Emergency Care
JF - Australasian Emergency Care
IS - 1
ER -
