Citation

Hall C, Essler S, Dandashi J, Corrigan M, Muñoz-Maldonado Y, Juergens A, Wieters S, Drigalla D, Regner JL. Proc. Bayl. Univ. Med. Cent. 2019; 32(2): 181-186.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Medical CenterTempleTexas.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Baylor Research Institute)

DOI

10.1080/08998280.2018.1550468

PMID

31191123

PMCID

PMC6541068

Abstract

Falls are the leading cause of trauma-related mortality in geriatric patients. We hypothesized that frailty and anticoagulation status are risk factors for readmission and mortality following falls in patients >80 years. A retrospective review was performed on patients over 80 years old who presented to our level 1 trauma center for a fall and underwent a computed tomography of the head between January 2014 and January 2016. Frailty was assessed via the Rockwood Frailty Score. Clinical outcomes were death, readmission, recurrent falls, and delayed intracranial hemorrhage. Of 803 fall-related encounters, 173 patients over 80 years old were identified for inclusion. The 30-day readmission rate was 17.5% and was associated with an increased 6-month mortality (P = 0.01). One-year and 2-year mortality rates were 28% and 47%, respectively. Frailty was the strongest predictor of 6-month and overall mortality (P < 0.01). Anticoagulation status did not significantly influence these outcomes. The recurrent fall rate was 21%, and delayed intracranial hemorrhage did not occur in this study. Mortality of octogenarians after a fall is most influenced by patient frailty. Acknowledgment of frailty, risk of recurrent falls, and increased mortality should direct goals of care for geriatric trauma patients.

Language: en

Keywords

Anticoagulation; falls; frailty; geriatric trauma; traumatic brain injury