Recognizing Trends in Older Adult Falls · Andzelika Rzucidlo, Injury Prevention Epidemiologist Trauma and Injury Prevention Division Email questions to: Indianatrauma@isdh.in.gov.

Recognizing Trends in Older Adult Falls

Andzelika Rzucidlo, Injury Prevention EpidemiologistTrauma and Injury Prevention Division

Email questions to: Indianatrauma@isdh.in.gov

Purpose

• Adults, 65 and older, account for almost 76% of all unintentional fall hospitalizations

• Over 10,000 in 2017

12,895

13,287

2016 2017

*Hospitalizations resulting in death were included

Indiana Hospitalizations*

Process Taken

2017 Inpatient Hospital

Discharge Data

Indiana Residents

kept

Only patients with a

primary diagnosis of injury included

Only patients with

unintentional falls included

Patients aged 64

and younger removed

Transfers removed

Subset of Indiana

Seniors with a Fall-related

Hospitalization in 2017

Variables Used in Addition to

ICD-10-CM Codes

AgeTime of

Admission

SexCounty of Residence

Patient Severity

(PS)

Based on 3M All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups

Length of Stay

(LOS)

Comparison – Females vs. Males

Males,

36%

Females,

64%

Frequency 5.43

4.84

Mean LOS

2.35

2.15

Mean PS

Males Females Males Females

Comparison – Rural vs. Urban

Urban,

56%

Rural,

44%

Frequency

5.41

4.76

Mean LOS

2.45

2.4

Mean PS

Urban UrbanRural Rural

Comparison – All Falls vs. Hx of Falls

2.43

2.52

Mean PS

All Falls

5.13

5.25Mean LOS

All Falls Hx of Falls Hx of Falls

MalesLiving in Urban

Counties

History of Falls

Populations at Risk of Severe Falls

Limitations

• ICD-10-CM reporting of history of falls (Z91.81)

• Hospital Discharge Dataset variables

• PS scores are only reported for hospitalizations

Stepping On

• Stepping On is a high-level, evidence-based program proven to reduce falls and build confidence in older adults

• In Wisconsin, it has shown a 50% reduction in falls in participants from 2008 to 2011

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4410405/

Stepping On Cont.

• Stepping On is a 7-week (once-a-week) evidence-based intervention proven to decrease the incidence of falls in older adults

• Helps older adults learn strategies for avoiding fall hazards

Stepping On Program Participants

• Participants are 60 years old and over

• ~65% of those who attend are female

• A majority of the programs are being held in Trauma Centers in urban counties

Contact information

Andzelika Rzucidlo, Injury Prevention Epidemiologist

Trauma and Injury Prevention Division

317.234.7463

arzucidlo@isdh.in.gov

Pravy Nijjar, MPH, CPST, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator

Trauma and Injury Prevention Division

317.234.1304

pnijjar@isdh.in.gov

Email questions to: Indianatrauma@isdh.in.gov