@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiology, morbidity and mortality from fall-related injuries in the United Arab Emirates",
journal="Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine",
year="2014",
author="Grivna, Michal and Eid, Hani O. and Abu-Zidan, Fikri M.",
volume="22",
number="",
pages="51-51",
abstract="Background: Unintentional falls are a major cause of morbidity and mortality with a significant burden on victims, families, and societies. We aimed to study the mechanism, risk factors, and outcome of hospitalized patients with fall-related injuries in order to propose preventive measures.<br><br>METHODS Fall-related injured patients who were admitted to Al Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for more than 24 hours or who died after arrival to the hospital, were studied over 3 years. Demography, location and time of injury, affected body regions, hospital and ICU stay, and outcome were analyzed.<br><br>RESULTS 882 patients were studied, 82% were males, and 22% were less than 19 years old. Majority were from the Indian subcontinent. The most common location for fall injuries was work. Patients injured at work were older and mainly non-UAE nationals (p¿<¿0.0001) when compared with those injured at home. Patients falling from height, when compared with those falling from same level, were older (p¿=¿0.017), had more males (p¿<¿0.001), were mainly from the Indian subcontinent (p¿<¿0.001), had higher ISS (p = 0.011) and longer total hospital stay (p¿<¿0.001).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS Falls are a major health problem in the UAE. Falls at work can be prevented by safety education tailored to different ethnic groups, and proper legislation and regulation. Environmental modification using evidence-based architectural design may prevent falls among vulnerable risk groups.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1757-7241",
doi="10.1186/s13049-014-0051-5",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13049-014-0051-5"
}