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Citation |
Uscher-Pines L, Vernick JS, Curriero FC, Lieberman R, Burke TA. J. Trauma 2009; 67(4): 834-840. |
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Affiliation |
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Health Data Services (R.L.), and Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2009, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
19820593 |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUND:: Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast of the United States in August 2005, initially displaced over a million people from their primary place of residence. Displaced older adults subsequently faced challenges, such as new or inferior living conditions, which could increase vulnerability to serious or life-threatening injuries such as hip fracture. The aim of this study was to determine whether Katrina victims who were displaced for a prolonged period of time were more likely to experience injuries than nondisplaced victims. METHODS:: We tracked injury outcomes including fractures, sprains or strains, and lacerations in a cohort of 25,019 older adults (age >/= 65 years) enrolled in a Medicare-Advantage Plan, for 1 year after Katrina. We used medical claims to obtain injury outcomes and analyzed propensity-score adjusted predictors of injury, including displacement status at 12 months. RESULTS:: In our sample, 7,030 (28%) older adults were displaced at 12-month post-Katrina. Displaced victims had 1.53 (95% CI: 1.10-2.13) greater odds of sustaining a hip fracture in the year after the storm and 1.24 (95% CI: 1.07-1.44) greater odds of sustaining other fractures after adjusting for other risk factors. There was no significant association between displacement status at 12 months and sprains or strains or lacerations. CONCLUSIONS:: Prolonged displacement is associated with increased risk of fracture in older adults. Emergency planners should screen temporary housing for injury hazards, and clinicians should regard displaced older adults as a vulnerable population in need of interventions such as risk communication messaging. Language: en |