Fall-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Adults With and Without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities or...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Neurology

Background:

• Older adults are typically considered the highest-risk group for fall injuries.
• Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD) and cerebral palsy (CP) also face elevated fall risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence and age-related trends of fall-related emergency department (ED) visits with injury between adults with IDD or CP and a comparison group.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the 2019 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department Databases.
• Analyzed data for adults aged 18-80 years, comparing those with IDD or CP to a non-IDD/CP control group.

Main Results:

• Fall-related ED visits with injury constituted a larger proportion of total ED visits for adults with IDD or CP compared to those without.
• While fall-related ED visits peaked in older adults (62-65 years) in the non-IDD/CP group, similar injury rates occurred much earlier in adults with IDD (42-45 years) and CP (34-41 years).

Conclusions:

• Individuals with IDD or CP experience fall-related injuries at disproportionately higher rates and at younger ages than the general population.
• Healthcare providers should implement fall risk screenings earlier in life for patients with IDD or CP.