@article{ref1,
title="Changes in emergency department and inpatient encounters for falls after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic",
journal="Journal of applied gerontology",
year="2024",
author="Lach, Helen W. and Salas, Joanne and Scherrer, Jeffery F.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study investigates changes in clinical encounters due to falls before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>METHODS: De-identified health record data from a large mid-western health system was used to examine the frequency of emergency department (ED) and inpatient (IP) encounters for falls by month among adults age 50+ (N = 485, 886 patients) using joinpoint regression analysis. Also, overall rates before and during the pandemic were compared using log-binomial models. <br><br>RESULTS: Fall rates increased following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic for IP encounters but not for ED encounters. There were no differences by age, gender, race, or nSES. Monthly IP fall rates increased by 0.68% per month both before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Pandemics may occur in the future, and interventions are needed to prevent falls in older adults during the next public health emergency.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0733-4648",
doi="10.1177/07334648241266434",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/07334648241266434"
}