Epidemiological Analysis of Elderly Patients Admitted to Emergency Department due to Trauma and Fracture

Introduction: This study aimedto epidemiologically examine elderly patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted to the emergency department during a 1-year period due to trauma and fracture detected using radiological imaging.

Materials and Methods: We enrolled 300 elderly patients admitted to the emergency department of the Medeniyet University Hospital due to trauma between 1 September 2014 and 1 September 2015. We examined patients’ sociodemographiccharacteristics, radiological images, history of fracture, chronic diseases and drugs used. Finally, attained data were analysed using statistical tests and compared with the relevant literature.

Results: Of the 300 patients, 75.7% (n = 227) were females and 24.3% (n = 73) were males. Falls were the leading reason for injuries in this study. As age increased, the number of females, admissions to emergency department and long bone fractures increased (P ˂ 0.05). Furthermore, 62.7% (n = 188) of all patients were discharged and 37.3% (n = 122) were hospitalised to clinics.

Discussion: In the elderly population using multiple drugs, gender and comorbid diseases are crucial factors related to morbidity and mortality. Thus, family members should be informed about protective measures to decrease multiple drug use as well as to prevent the deterioration of the life comfort of patients and the emergence of possible new cases.

Keywords: Trauma, fracture, geriatric patient, fall.