The impact of unintentional alcohol-related falls on emergency departments.

Woods, C; Jones, R; Usher, K

The impact of unintentional alcohol-related falls on emergency departments.

Woods, C Jones, R Usher, K

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australas Emerg Care, 2019, 22, (1), pp. 22-27
Issue Date:: 2019-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Woods, C
dc.contributor.author	Jones, R
dc.contributor.author	Usher, K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-5003
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-15T06:15:28Z
dc.date.available	2018-11-05
dc.date.available	2022-09-15T06:15:28Z
dc.date.issued	2019-03
dc.identifier.citation	Australas Emerg Care, 2019, 22, (1), pp. 22-27
dc.identifier.issn	2589-1375
dc.identifier.issn	2588-994X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161836
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Alcohol is the cause of many injury presentations to the emergency department. There has been little research on alcohol-related falls in the broader adult population, which represent a substantial proportion of the total alcohol-related injury presentations to emergency departments. METHODS: A population-based retrospective analysis of public hospital emergency department presentations for Victoria for 2003-2015 was undertaken. RESULTS: Alcohol-related fall presentations have increased by 96% over the 13-year period, a rate of growth exceeding non-alcohol-related falls, all ED presentations, and Victorian population growth. Alcohol-related fall presentations are most prevalent in the 20-24 year age group, and among males. The severity of alcohol-related fall presentations is greater than non-alcohol-related fall presentations, based on triage scale ratings and admission rates, with head injuries being the most frequent type of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Public health warnings about the risks of alcohol-related fall injuries and the need to seek medical treatment for head injuries in particular are necessary to raise awareness among younger people. Emergency staff vigilance with neurological assessments is needed for early diagnosis of traumatic brain injury in alcohol-related fall presentations to help prevent adverse outcomes.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Australas Emerg Care
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.auec.2018.11.001
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Age Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Alcohol Drinking
dc.subject.mesh	Emergency Service, Hospital
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Victoria
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Alcohol Drinking
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Age Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Emergency Service, Hospital
dc.subject.mesh	Victoria
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.title	The impact of unintentional alcohol-related falls on emergency departments.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	22
utslib.location.activity	Australia
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-09-15T06:15:21Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	22
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is the cause of many injury presentations to the emergency department. There has been little research on alcohol-related falls in the broader adult population, which represent a substantial proportion of the total alcohol-related injury presentations to emergency departments. METHODS: A population-based retrospective analysis of public hospital emergency department presentations for Victoria for 2003-2015 was undertaken. RESULTS: Alcohol-related fall presentations have increased by 96% over the 13-year period, a rate of growth exceeding non-alcohol-related falls, all ED presentations, and Victorian population growth. Alcohol-related fall presentations are most prevalent in the 20-24 year age group, and among males. The severity of alcohol-related fall presentations is greater than non-alcohol-related fall presentations, based on triage scale ratings and admission rates, with head injuries being the most frequent type of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Public health warnings about the risks of alcohol-related fall injuries and the need to seek medical treatment for head injuries in particular are necessary to raise awareness among younger people. Emergency staff vigilance with neurological assessments is needed for early diagnosis of traumatic brain injury in alcohol-related fall presentations to help prevent adverse outcomes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161836