Gender Difference in Falls among Adults Treated in Emergency Departments and Outpatient Clinics

This study examined the impact of gender on age-related increase for falls and injurious falls resulting in head injuries/fractures among adults, using data from both emergency department and clinic visits. We also estimated the percentages of falls treated in points of entry outside of emergency departments.

The study population consisted of 259,611 adults seen at emergency department, inpatient, and/or outpatient facilities between January, 2007 and June, 2012 at a US medical center. Rates of falls and injurious falls with head injuries/fractures were calculated by age and gender.

After using both emergency department and clinic visit data, medically consulted falls and injurious falls resulting in head injuries/fractures increased with age for females aged ≥ 18 years. For males, these rates declined, reached the lowest point at age of 65-74, and then increased again. Thirty-nine percent of females and 63% of males treated their falls in clinics, instead of emergency departments.

Gender disparity of medically consulted falls and related injuries exits among adults. Age and gender targeted fall injury prevention interventions need further development. Significant numbers of fall-related injuries were treated at clinics; future research is needed to determine whether fall injury surveillance should be expanded to include outpatient clinics.