@article{ref1,
title="The impact of geographical location on trends in hospitalisation rates and outcomes for fall-related injuries in older people",
journal="Australian and New Zealand journal of public health",
year="2016",
author="Sukumar, Dharan W. and Harvey, Lara A. and Mitchell, Rebecca J. and Close, Jacqueline C. T.",
volume="40",
number="4",
pages="342-348",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This population-based study investigates the influence of geographical location on hospital admissions, utilisation and outcomes for fall-related injury in older adults, adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities. <br><br>METHODS: A linked dataset of all admissions of NSW residents aged 65 and older, hospitalised at least once for a fall-related injury between 2003 and 2012, was used to estimate rates of hospitalisations, total lengths-of-stay, 28-day readmissions, and 30-day mortalities. These were standardised for age, sex, comorbidity, and remoteness. <br><br>RESULTS: Compared to urban residents, rural residents were hospitalised less (p<0.0001) and hospitalisation rates increased at a lower rate (0.8% vs 2.6% per year) from 2003 to 2012. Rural residents had a shorter median total length of stay (5 vs 7 days, p<0.0001), a higher 28-day readmission rate (18.9% vs 17.0%, p<0.0001) and higher 30-day mortality (5.0% vs 4.9%, p=0.0046). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Over the study period, rural residents of NSW had lower rates of fall-related injury hospitalisation and a lower annual increase in hospitalisation rates compared to urban residents. When hospitalised, rural residents had a shorter length-of-stay, but higher rates of readmission and mortality. These differences existed following standardisation. IMPLICATIONS: This study highlights the need for further research to characterise and explain this variability.<br><br>© 2016 Public Health Association of Australia.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1326-0200",
doi="10.1111/1753-6405.12524",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12524"
}