Research Abstract: Free Paper - Poster Presentation Only Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

The COVID Pandemic and Beyond: Trends in Falls Presentations Amongst Older People (#165)

Danielle Ní Chróinín 1 2 , Steve A Frost 3 4 5
  1. Geriatric Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
  2. UNSW Sydney, South Western Sydney Clinical School, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
  3. Liverpool Hospital, South Western Sydney LHD, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. South Western Sydney Nursing and Midwifery Research Alliance, University of Wollongong, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, Australia

Aims: The impact of COVID on society has extended beyond the viral illness alone, and older people may be particularly vulnerable to effects of ‘lockdown’ over the course of the pandemic, including reduced opportunities to mobilise and socially interact. We aimed to explore trends in falls presentations among older adults and whether these aligned with periods of lockdown and post-lockdown ‘remobilisation’.

 

Methods: We included all emergency department presentations with falls (people aged 65+) across our district (5 hospitals), 2019-mid 2022. ‘Lockdown’ comprised periods of strict social restrictions in NSW: March-June 2020, July-October 2021.

 

Results: The overall rate of falls presentations for this period was 103/1000 older people. Rates of falls presentations averaged 105/1000 for March-June 2019, with a rate of 108/1000 for lockdown period March-June 2020. A reduced rate of falls was noted during lockdown July-October 2020, at 96/1000, compared to 100/1000 for July-October 2019. Following this, falls presentations increased, with an average rate of 107/1000 for March-June 2022. (Figure).

 

  Figure: Rate of falls presentations amongst older people, 2019-2022

 

 63f8453c931d5-Figure+for+abstract.png

Conclusions: Patterns of falls presentations did not clearly mirror periods of lockdown. A reduction in older people’s falls presentations during later lockdown was concerningly followed by a rebound increase in falls. Identifying those who are now at highest risk of falls, due, for example, to pandemic-associated deconditioning or cognitive decline, may facilitate targeted intervention. Furthermore, the risk of falls attendant on lockdowns should be closely addressed if further restrictions are necessary.