Current status of falls and related injuries among Chinese elderly in 2013 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate the demographic characteristics of falls and fall-related injuries in Chinese elderly population. Methods: In 2013, the 4(th) round Chronic Non-communicable Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance in China was conducted in 31 provinces. A stratified multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select the samples. A total number of 98 629 community-based adults aged 60 years and older received a set of standardized questionnaires with a face to face interview. The prevalence rates of falls and consequent injuries were compared between different genders, age groups, levels of education and areas of residency. Results: The overall prevalence of falls among elderly in the previous 6 months was 8.0%(95%CI: 7.5%-8.5%). The prevalence was increasing with age and decreasing with the levels of education, and higher in females (9.1%) than in males (6.8%), with differences statistically significant (χ(2)=74.1, P<0.01). Prevalence rates were also seen higher in rural (8.6%), in widowed (11.0%) residents and in farmers or house workers than those in urban areas (7.2%), in non-widowed (7.0%), or having other jobs, with differences all statistically significant (χ(2)=7.7, P<0.01, χ(2)=128.0, P<0.01). 52.6% of the elderly got injured when fell. The proportion of injury was greater in females (54.8%) than that in males (49.6%), with differences statistically significant (χ(2)=10.2, P<0.01). Proportion of most frequent types of injuries were hip fractures (7.3%), hand/arm fractures (12.5%), head injury (8.0%) and bruise (53.6%) respectively. The proportion of hip fractures was 12.4% in elderly over 80 year of age, also was the highest. Conclusions: Results from the present study showed that elderly suffered high prevalence of falls.Statistically significant differences were seen in residents with different groups as genders, age, education levels, marital status, urban/rural areas or jobs. Group-based comprehensive prevention and intervention on falls should be strengthened.

Epidemiologia e grau de satisfação do paciente vítima de trauma músculo-esquelético atendido em hospital de emergência da rede pública brasileira / Epidemiologic profile and satisfaction level of patients presenting musculoskeletal trauma assisted in a public emergency hospital in Brazil

O objetivo desse estudo é descrever o perfil sócio-demográfico de pacientes vítimas de trauma atendidos em um hospital de referência da rede pública de Fortaleza - Brasil. Também pretende relacionar o tempo de espera para o atendimento com a satisfação pessoal do paciente em relação ao serviço prestado. Outro ponto abordado nesse estudo é a análise das patologias músculo-esqueléticas mais freqüentes nessa população. Foi realizado um estudo transversal durante os anos de 2002 e 2003 em hospital de referência em trauma da rede pública da cidade de Fortaleza - Brasil. Foram incluídos no estudo 500 pacientes atendidos na emergência. Após a realização da análise desse estudo, podemos idealizar um perfil do paciente atendido na rede pública de saúde vítima de trauma músculo-esquelético em Fortaleza: Paciente do sexo masculino (60,7 por cento), cor parda (55 por cento), jovem entre quinze e trinta anos (55 por cento), procedente de Fortaleza (74 por cento), proveniente de família com renda inferior a dois salários mínimos (60 por cento) e relativamente hígido, sendo as fraturas o principal tipo de lesão (48 por cento). Pacientes atendidos em hospitais de referência em trauma constituem um problema social importante e, na maioria dos casos, apresentam lesões graves, o que demonstra a necessidade e importância de investimentos nesse setor.