1 research outputs found
The impact of geographical location on trends in hospitalisation rates and outcomes for fallârelated injuries in older people
Abstract Objective: This populationâbased study investigates the influence of geographical location on hospital admissions, utilisation and outcomes for fallârelated injury in older adults, adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities. Methods: A linked dataset of all admissions of NSW residents aged 65 and older, hospitalised at least once for a fallârelated injury between 2003 and 2012, was used to estimate rates of hospitalisations, total lengthsâofâstay, 28âday readmissions, and 30âday mortalities. These were standardised for age, sex, comorbidity, and remoteness. 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 28âday readmission rate (18.9% vs 17.0%, p<0.0001) and higher 30âday mortality (5.0% vs 4.9%, p=0.0046). Conclusions: Over the study period, rural residents of NSW had lower rates of fallârelated injury hospitalisation and a lower annual increase in hospitalisation rates compared to urban residents. When hospitalised, rural residents had a shorter lengthâofâstay, 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