TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of geriatric trauma in United Arab Emirates
AU - Adam, Shehabeldin H.
AU - Eid, Hani O.
AU - Barss, Peter
AU - Lunsjo, Karl
AU - Grivna, Michal
AU - Torab, Fawaz Chikh
AU - Abu-Zidan, Fikri M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Individual University Grant (# 01-07-8-11/03), Faculty of Medicine Research Grants (NP/03/11, 2003; and NP/04/28, 2004) and an Interdisciplinary Grant (#02-07-8-1/4).
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - The mechanisms and outcome of trauma in hospitalized elderly patients were studied. The data of Al-Ain Hospital Trauma Registry were prospectively collected over a period of 3 years (2003-2006). All elderly trauma-patients above 60 years who were admitted to surgical ward or who died on arrival were studied. Demography of patients, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), hospital stay and mortality were analyzed. There were 121 patients (70 males and 51 females). Mean (range) age was 69 years (60-100), 42% were United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals. The two most common mechanisms of injury were falls (55%) followed by road traffic collisions (RTC) (32%). The median (range) ISS of the group was 5 (1-34). The ISS median (interquartile range) of falling down, RTC, and fall from height were 4 (4-9), 6 (4-10), and 8 (5-9), respectively (p = 0.31). Forty-one percentage of injuries occurred at home. The mean (range) hospital stay was 12.4 (1-150) days. Six patients (5%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Overall mortality was 6% (7 patients), of whom 5 were pedestrians hit by cars. We concluded that low-energy trauma from falls was the most common cause of injury in the elderly. Mortality was high mainly from pedestrian injuries.
AB - The mechanisms and outcome of trauma in hospitalized elderly patients were studied. The data of Al-Ain Hospital Trauma Registry were prospectively collected over a period of 3 years (2003-2006). All elderly trauma-patients above 60 years who were admitted to surgical ward or who died on arrival were studied. Demography of patients, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), hospital stay and mortality were analyzed. There were 121 patients (70 males and 51 females). Mean (range) age was 69 years (60-100), 42% were United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals. The two most common mechanisms of injury were falls (55%) followed by road traffic collisions (RTC) (32%). The median (range) ISS of the group was 5 (1-34). The ISS median (interquartile range) of falling down, RTC, and fall from height were 4 (4-9), 6 (4-10), and 8 (5-9), respectively (p = 0.31). Forty-one percentage of injuries occurred at home. The mean (range) hospital stay was 12.4 (1-150) days. Six patients (5%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Overall mortality was 6% (7 patients), of whom 5 were pedestrians hit by cars. We concluded that low-energy trauma from falls was the most common cause of injury in the elderly. Mortality was high mainly from pedestrian injuries.
KW - Mortality
KW - Trauma in elderly
KW - Traumatic injuries
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U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2007.08.018
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2007.08.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 17936381
AN - SCOPUS:52049086226
SN - 0167-4943
VL - 47
SP - 377
EP - 382
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
IS - 3
ER -