Even short falls can be deadly for 70-plus adults
November 2nd, 2010 - 5:55 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Nov 2 (ANI): A study has revealed that simple falls, such as slipping while walking off a curb, may seem relatively harmless but they can actually lead to severe injury and death in elderly individuals.
The new study found elderly adults - 70 years or older - who experience ground-level falls are much more likely to be severely injured and less likely to survive their injuries compared to adults younger than 70 years.
Elderly patients are three times as likely to die following a ground-level fall compared to their under-70 counterparts.
Trauma surgeon and researcher Julius Cheng conducted the largest analysis to date of trauma patients experiencing ground-level falls.
His team identified 57,302 patients with ground-level falls from 2001 through 2005 using the National Trauma Data Bank and analyzed demographics, type and severity of injuries and final outcomes.
The study has been published in The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care. (ANI)
- Elderly victims of abuse more likely to use alcohol or drugs: Study - Mar 23, 2011
- Women 14pc more likely to survive trauma than men - Oct 21, 2010
- Can video games promote healthier aging? - Apr 24, 2012
- Elderly can blame low sodium for fractures and falls - Nov 21, 2010
- Life expectancy for 'early modern and late archaic humans was same' - Jan 12, 2011
- Aging LGB adults more likely to suffer chronic disease, mental distress - Mar 30, 2011
- Uninsured patients more likely to die from trauma than insured ones - Jun 12, 2010
- Gardening 'increases vegetable consumption in older adults' - Mar 18, 2011
- New Motion Tracking Technology to reduce Injuries in the elderly - Aug 11, 2010
- Elderly people with clinical depression more prone to knee arthritis - Mar 17, 2011
- Tinnitus common among elderly: Study - Oct 08, 2010
- Common sleep medicine puts older adults at risk for nighttime falls - Jan 14, 2011
- Old people more outgoing, sexually active - Nov 01, 2011
- Tai chi 'cuts depression in elderly people' - Mar 17, 2011
- Elevators can pose real danger for older adults - Feb 10, 2010
Tags: counterparts, demographics, elderly adults, elderly individuals, elderly patients, journal of trauma, national trauma, nov 2, researcher, severity, three times, trauma injury, trauma patients, trauma surgeon