J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2021 Aug;32(4):290-298.

The incidence and characteristics of patients admitted to the hospital after a fall by the life cycle and risk factor for death

• Yoo JY
• Kim DW
• Kim SM
• Ahn ME
• Seo JY
• Lee TH
• Park HS

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed at identifying the incidence rate and characteristics of patients who had suffered falls, classifying them by life cycle and factors that affect mortality.
Methods
The Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Surveys (KNHDIS) from 2007 to 2016 were used to investigate the sex, age, place, season, payment method, underlying disease, and the death of hospitalized patients due to falls.
Results
The number of hospitalized patients increased with age. In all life cycles except old age, men were hospitalized more than women. The payment method for treatment was 66.1% through national health insurance, 6.6% through medical aid, and 27.3% through other sources. Falls were most common in winter and occurred frequently at home and on the road. In terms of the number of patients, the compound annual growth rate was 0.9% for men and 3.7% for women. In terms of the number of deaths in hospitals, the compound annual growth rate was -1.9% for men and -7.2% for women. Mortality risk was high in men in middle adulthood and old age, in patients with underlying diseases, and in patients who suffered a fall in their homes.
Conclusion
The number of patients from falls is increasing, but the deaths of hospitalized fall patients are decreasing. Mortality risk was high in men in middle adulthood and old age, in patients with underlying diseases, and in patients who suffered falls in their homes.

Keyword

Falls; Age groups; Epidemiology; Mortality