Demographic differences in injuries among the elderly: an analysis of emergency department visits.

Abstract

An understanding of demographic differences in injury types among the elderly will help in targeting interventions. Rates were calculated from the 1997 to 1999 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys by dividing the estimated number of visits by census population estimates. Age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratios were calculated to facilitate comparison between genders and between races. Although men had fewer fractures than expected on the basis of the rate for women (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.57), they had more open wounds (standardized morbidity ratio = 1.785, p < 0.001). Blacks had fewer fractures than expected, based on the rates for whites (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.601, p = 0.004) but had higher visit rates than expected for less severe injuries such as contusions, strains, and sprains. The trends noted in the present analysis suggest interventions for improved machinery safety targeted at elderly men and a continuing focus on access to primary care for minority elderly.