Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Holloway-Kew, KL; Baker, TR; Sajjad, MA; Kotowicz, MA; Livingston, PM; Khasraw, M; Hakkennes, S; Dunning, TL; Brumby, S; Page, RS; Williams, LJ ...
Published in: Australas Emerg Care
June 2020

BACKGROUND: In order to implement intervention strategies to prevent falls from height, epidemiological data are needed. The aim of this study was to map emergency presentations for falls from height in residents aged ≥40yr of the western region of Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Emergency presentations following a fall from height (≥1m) were obtained from electronic medical records for 2014-2016 inclusive. For each Local Government Area, age-standardised incidence rates (per 10,000 population/year) were calculated. RESULTS: The age-standardised incidence rate was lowest in the Northern Grampians (3.4 95%CI 0.8-5.9), which has several main industries including health care, agriculture and manufacturing. The highest rates occurred in Corangamite (26.0 95%CI 19.9-32.0), Colac-Otway (23.7 95%CI 18.5-28.8) and Moyne (22.5 95%CI 16.8-28.3), which are sparsely populated (15,000-20,000 people each). Patterns were similar for men and women. Most falls occurred during "leisure" (38.0%), followed by "other work" (15.4%). Men were more likely than women to experience a fall from height while undertaking work activities. Many falls occurred in the home (53.2%). CONCLUSION: Future research should inform strategies to prevent falls from height in the region. This could include specific locations such as the home or farm, and during leisure activities or work.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Australas Emerg Care

DOI

EISSN

2588-994X

Publication Date

June 2020

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

119 / 125

Location

Australia

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Victoria
  • Nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Aged, 80 and over
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Holloway-Kew, K. L., Baker, T. R., Sajjad, M. A., Kotowicz, M. A., Livingston, P. M., Khasraw, M., … Pasco, J. A. (2020). The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia. Australas Emerg Care, 23(2), 119–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2019.09.002
Holloway-Kew, Kara L., Tim R. Baker, Muhammad A. Sajjad, Mark A. Kotowicz, Patricia M. Livingston, Mustafa Khasraw, Sharon Hakkennes, et al. “The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia.Australas Emerg Care 23, no. 2 (June 2020): 119–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2019.09.002.
Holloway-Kew KL, Baker TR, Sajjad MA, Kotowicz MA, Livingston PM, Khasraw M, et al. The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia. Australas Emerg Care. 2020 Jun;23(2):119–25.
Holloway-Kew, Kara L., et al. “The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia.Australas Emerg Care, vol. 23, no. 2, June 2020, pp. 119–25. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.auec.2019.09.002.
Holloway-Kew KL, Baker TR, Sajjad MA, Kotowicz MA, Livingston PM, Khasraw M, Hakkennes S, Dunning TL, Brumby S, Page RS, Sutherland AG, Brennan-Olsen SL, Williams LJ, Pasco JA. The epidemiology of emergency presentations for falls from height across Western Victoria, Australia. Australas Emerg Care. 2020 Jun;23(2):119–125.
Journal cover image

Published In

Australas Emerg Care

DOI

EISSN

2588-994X

Publication Date

June 2020

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

119 / 125

Location

Australia

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Victoria
  • Nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Aged, 80 and over