A Survey of Accidental Fall - induced Injuries and Mortality in a Central Trauma Hospital in Iran: 2015 - 2016

Abstract

Background: The increasing rate of fall - induced trauma cases leads to an increase in mortality rates and lengthy hospital stay across the globe. The current study aimed at investigating the fall - related mortality in the age - group of 15 years and over. Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted in 2016 on patients visiting Shahid Rajaee Hospital of Shiraz, Iran, for fall - induced injuries by census sampling method. The researchers completed a questionnaire including demographic data, accident type, and height of fall, duration of hospital stay, injured body regions, type of activity in time of accident, injury severity score, and death. Data were categorized and analyzed. Results: There were 544 subjects in the current study, with a mean age of 49.3 ± 22.42 years; 67% of the patients were male and 33% female, and 74.8% were married; the gender ratio was 2.02. There was no significant difference between the mean ages of injured females (59.15 ± 21.43 years) and males (44.43 ± 21.03 years) (P = 0.92). There was a significant relationship between injury site and fall - related mortality in the age group of 60 years and over (P = 0.02). Most cases of falls occurred during daily and occupational activities, mostly in the evenings. Around 54.2% of the injuries included multiple - organ injuries. Fall - induced injuries were more severe among the age group of 15 - 40 years and patients over 60 years old. Conclusions: According to the high mortality and severity of injuries in the more active age - group of the society (due to occupational activity), as well as the elderly, fall prevention plans seem a necessity among at risk groups.