Determining the relative risk of hospitalisation and surgery of fall injury patients

Falls are one of the most common cause of nonfatal and fatal injuries in the U.S. costing over an estimated $54 billion annually. A significant percentage of patients presenting to hospital emergency departments (ED) for falls are hospitalised. This paper analyzes a regional hospital data pertaining to adults presenting to the ED because of falls. We use patient demographics and medical conditions to help identify patients at risk for immediate undesirable outcomes after a fall. Furthermore, we determine the relative risk of patient hospitalisation and surgery and their characteristics. Our results indicate that older patient’s, patients arriving by ambulance, patients with higher severity levels and patients with pre-existing comorbidities were at a higher relative risk of hospitalisation and surgery. Furthermore, patients with medical conditions pertaining to femur and tibia fractures, pelvis, renal failure, ambulatory dysfunction, and cellulitis, among others, and non-Hispanic whites were at a much higher relative risk of hospitalisation and surgery.