Comparison of fall‐related traumatic brain injury in residential aged care and community‐dwelling older people: A population‐based study. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harvey, Lara A; Mitchell, Rebecca; Brodaty, Henry; Draper, Brian; Close, Jacqueline CT
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 36:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: falls -- frail elderly -- data linkage -- traumatic brain injury; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12422
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To compare trends, causes, and outcomes of fall‐related traumatic brain injury (TBI) between community‐dwelling (CD) individuals and residential aged care facility (RACF) residents. Methods: Hospitalisation and RACF administrative data for 6635 individuals aged ≥65 years admitted to all NSW hospitals for fall‐related TBI from 2008–2009 to 2012–2013 were linked. Results: Of the 6944 hospitalisations, 20.8% were for RACF residents. Age‐standardised hospitalisation rates were almost fourfold higher for RACF residents than CD individuals (standardised rate ratio 3.7; 95% CI 3.4–4.1); but increased at a similar annual rate of 9.2% (95% CI 0.3–19.0) and 7.2% (95% CI 5.6–8.9), respectively. Compared to CD individuals: a higher proportion of falls in RACF residents were furniture‐related (21.4% vs 9.9%); resulted in haemorrhage (82.5% vs 73.7%); and death (23.1% vs 14.9%). Overall, 7.7% of hospitalisations for CD individuals resulted in new permanent RACF placement. Conclusion: Residential aged care facility residents have higher hospitalisation rates and poorer health outcomes than their CD counterparts.