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Original Research

Open Access

The comparison of assault and falling in elder patients over 65 years of age

  • Kaan Celik1
  • Tamer Colak1

1Department of Emergency, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, 14030 Bolu, Turkey

DOI: 10.22514/sv.2021.090 Vol.17,Issue 6,November 2021 pp.131-135

Submitted: 01 February 2021 Accepted: 26 March 2021

Published: 08 November 2021

*Corresponding Author(s): Tamer Colak E-mail: drtamercolak@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine suspected events for elder abuse, and to increase awareness of the clinicians by comparing traumatic elder abuse and falling.

Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively on individuals older than 65 years referred due to traumatic abuse and falling between 1 June 2014 and 30 September 2019. The patients were evaluated for age, gender, co-morbidity, trauma location, trauma scores at referral [injury severity score (ISS), Glasgow coma scale (GCS)], and vital parameters at referral [mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the pulse rate]. Variable distribution was evaluated by Kolmogorov-Simirnov test. Mann Whitney U test was used for analysis of quantitative data; chi-square test was utilized for analysis of independent qualitative data; Fischer’s test was used when chi-square conditions are provided.

Results: The median age of the patients exposed to abuse was 73 (IQR: 11) years and 48% of these patients were male. The age median of the patients exposed to abuse was significantly higher; frequency of female patients were significantly more (p < 0.05). Fracture incidence was higher in the patients who have fallen; however, soft tissue trauma was higher in the patients who have been abused (p < 0.05). Hospitalization prevalence of assaulted cases was higher (p < 0.05); however, mortality prevalence was similar (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Consequently, abuse causes severe traumas when compared with accident and falling. The probability of abuse should be considered in elder trauma cases with specific locations (upper limbs and face etc.).


Keywords

Elder patient; Elder abuse; Trauma; Emergency


Cite and Share

Kaan Celik,Tamer Colak. The comparison of assault and falling in elder patients over 65 years of age. Signa Vitae. 2021. 17(6);131-135.

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