Hospital and non-hospital costs for fall-related injury in community-dwelling older people

Anne C. Tiedemann; Susan M. Murray; Bridget Munro; Stephen R. Lord

doi:10.1071/NB07022

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Hospital and non-hospital costs for fall-related injury in community-dwelling older people

Anne C. Tiedemann ^A ^B , Susan M. Murray ^A , Bridget Munro ^A and Stephen R. Lord ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales

^B Corresponding author. Email: a.tiedemann@powmri.edu.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(10) 161-165 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07022
Published: 21 November 2008

Abstract

Objectives: This study determined the cost of fall-related health care in a cohort of community-dwelling people. Methods: 578 people aged 75 years and over were monitored for falls and related health-care costs for one year. Results: The mean cost per injurious fall was $1600 (year 2000 dollars). Hospital costs accounted for 67% of the total cost, even though only 4% of injurious falls required hospital admission. The cost of non-hospital health care was also substantial. Conclusion: This study highlights the economic burden of falls and the importance of injury prevention strategies.

Acknowledgments

The National Health and Medical Research Council (POPI Partnership in Injury and Project Grants), and the Medical Benefits Fund of Australia supported this study.

References

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