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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on October 20, 2009
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp165
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Short Report

The epidemiology of domestic injurious falls in a community dwelling elderly population: an outgrowing economic burden

M. Sartini1, M. L. Cristina1, A. M. Spagnolo1, P. Cremonesi2, C. Costaguta2, F. Monacelli3, J. Garau3 and P. Odetti3

1 Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
2 DEA I livello, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy
3 Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

Correspondence: Marina Sartini, PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via Pastore, 1, 16132 Genova, Italy, tel: +39 010 353 8447, fax: +39 010 353 8216, e-mail: sartini{at}unige.it

Received May 6, 2009 , accepted September 17, 2009

In Italy, more than 3 million people annually sustain a domestic injury; the elderly experience it the most. From a healthcare perspective, elderly falls are a major clinical issue with an outgrowing socioeconomic burden. The aim of the study was to evaluate the epidemiology of injurious falls in a community dwelling population, admitted to the emergency room (ER) because of a domestic injury, to assess the socioeconomic burden. Seventy-four hospitalized patients among 227 were examined. Falls represented the main cause of admittance to the ER; the average cost for fall-related hospitalization was of {euro}5479.09.

Keywords: falls, elderly, health expenditure, frailty.


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