PIT9 BURDEN OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT AMONG ELDERLY DUE TO FALL

Abstract

To examine length of hospital stay and hospital charges among patients visiting emergency department (ED) due to hip and/or pelvis fracture after fall. A cross-sectional, retrospective population-based study using the 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data was conducted. Inclusion criteria were patients 65 years and older, diagnosed with hip and/or pelvis fracture due to fall, and admitted to the ED. Hip and/or pelvis fracture was identified using the ICD-10-CM of S72.0 to S72.2, S32.1 to S32.6 and S32.8, and incidences due to fall was identified using the ICD-10-CM of W00 to W19. Outcomes were compared based on individual factors (age, gender, insurance, median household income, and comorbidities) and hospital factors (designation center level and region). Length of hospital stay and hospital charges were calculated as average per visit. The study included 61,256 patients diagnosed with hip or pelvis fracture (mean age 82.2 years; 72.8% female; 94.6% public insured; and 25.6% proportion of median household income >= $74,000). Of those patients, 48.1% were transported to non-trauma center. Mean Charlson comorbidity score was 1.9, and 79.1% went through medical or surgical procedure(s) during hospitalization. Mean Length of stay was 5.3 days. Furthermore, length of stay was shorter among females (5.1 days vs. 5.8 days) and those with public insurance (5.3 days vs. 5.9 days). Hospital charge per visit was approximately $65,800. Moreover, hospital charge was less among females ($63,100 vs. $73,100) and those with public insurance ($65,500 vs. $71,100). Patients visiting ED due to hip and/or pelvis fracture due to fall were women and those with public insurance. Average length of hospital stay was 5 days and hospital charge was $65,000 per visit.