Unintentional Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments Among Persons Aged 65 Years and Older, United States, 2006-2011

background.   As the US population ages, the burden of unintentional injuries will likely increase along with utilization of health care services and associated medical costs.

 objective.  To describe trends and characterize unintentional injury-related US hospital emergency department (ED) visits among persons ≥65 years.

methods.  We analyzed data on ED visits for unintentional injuries from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, 2006-2011.  Trends in annual rates of unintentional injury-related ED visits were examined by 5-year age groups, sex, mechanism, body region, discharge disposition, and primary payer.  We also estimated medical costs.

results.  From 2006-2011, the annual age-adjusted rate of unintentional injury-related ED visits per 100,000 population increased significantly from 7,987.4 to 8,163.9 for those age ≥65 years.  Rates for females were higher than males.  Rates increased steadily by 5-year age group with the highest rates among those aged ≥100.  Falls accounted for 65% of these injuries and fall-related injury rates increased each year from 2006 to 2011.  Most of the increase was associated with hip fractures, traumatic brain injury, and other head and neck injuries.  In 2011, the estimated lifetime medical cost of unintentional injury-related ED visits among those aged ≥65 was $40 billion.  About 85% of these costs were expected to be paid by Medicare.

conclusion.  Increasing rates of ED-treated unintentional injuries among older adults indicate a growing health care and economic burden on society.  Prevention efforts to reduce falls and resulting injuries among adults ≥65 years have the potential to reduce health care spending, especially costs incurred by Medicare recipients.