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

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.).