Abstract

Objective

Falls among older adults are a public health problem and are multi-factorial. We sought to determine whether falls predict more serious conditions in older adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a nonspecific complaint (NSC). A secondary objective was to examine what factors predicted serious conditions among older adult patients with a fall.

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective delayed type cross-sectional diagnostic study which included a 30-day follow up. We included patients, aged 65 and older, who presented to the ED from May 2007 and July 2011 with a “non-specific complaint� and had an Emergency Severity Index (ESI) score of 2 or 3. We then compared the serious conditions among older adults who presented to the ED with a fall compared to those who did not fall in a cohort of patients with NSC.

Results

We had 1,111 patients enrolled in our study; 518 (47%) of them had fallen. We found 310 (60%) of elderly fall patients versus 349 (59%) of non-fall patients had a 30-day serious condition (p = .74). In multiple logistic regression analysis, falls did not predict serious conditions or 30-day mortality among all non-specific complaint patients. Among fall patients, male gender, diuretic use, and generalized weakness predicted serious conditions.

Conclusion

Falls patients share many features with non-fall NSC patient. However, falls did not increase the risk of serious conditions. Falls in the elderly could be considered under the broader entity of NSC.