Demographic differences in injuries among the elderly: An analysis of emergency department visits

Background: An understanding of demographic differences in injury types among the elderly will help in targeting interventions. Methods: Rates were calculated from the 1997 to 1999 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys by dividing the estimated number of visits by census population estimates. Age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratios were calculated to facilitate comparison between genders and between races. Results: Although men had fewer fractures than expected on the basis of the rate for women (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.57), they had more open wounds (standardized morbidity ratio = 1.785, p < 0.001). Blacks had fewer fractures than expected, based on the rates for whites (standardized morbidity ratio = 0.601, p = 0.004) but had higher visit rates than expected for less severe injuries such as contusions, strains, and sprains. Conclusion: The trends noted in the present analysis suggest interventions for improved machinery safety targeted at elderly men and a continuing focus on access to primary care for minority elderly.