Presenter(s):

A Bukova-Zideluna; A Villerusa; J Skrule, Riga Stradins University, Latvia

Abstract

Introduction: As falls are a leading cause of injury, hospitalisation, and mortality among older adults, this study examines fall-related deaths in association with injury-related hospitalisations before death among older adults in Latvia.

Methods: Secondary data from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia were analysed for individuals aged 50 years and older who died between 2019 and 2023. Records from the Register of Causes of Death, which included cases with ICD-10-CM codes W00–W19 listed as either the primary or a contributing cause of death, were individually linked to inpatient data from state-funded healthcare services for the 12 months preceding death. Descriptive and logistic analyses were conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0, with significance at p<0.05.
Financed by the project RSU internal and RSU with LSPA external consolidation No.5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/005, Postdoctoral Grant Associated factors of frailty and fall-related mortality in the older population in Latvia No.RSU-PG-2024/1-0005.

Results: The sample comprised 702 older adults from Latvia (52.8% male), with a mean age of 76.5 years (SD ± 12.4), who died as a result of slipping, tripping, stumbling, or falling. In total, 86.6% had been hospitalised at least once in the year preceding death, and 32.9% had been hospitalised more than once. Overall, 75.5% had been hospitalised within a year before death due to injuries (ICD codes S00–T98), and 13.4% had been hospitalised more than once for injuries. Among individuals from the target group who were hospitalised for injuries, 86.0% died during hospitalisation. The median length of hospital stay was 7.0 days (interquartile range [IQR] 4.0–12.0) for those who died in hospital, compared to 9.3 days (IQR 7.0–13.7) for those who were discharged (p < 0.01). The median time from hospital discharge to death was 12.0 days (IQR 4.7–33.0). Women and individuals in older age groups had higher odds of being hospitalised, sustaining injuries before hospitalisation, and dying in hospital.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that injuries among Latvia’s ageing population lead to healthcare utilisation and economic burden, particularly among older adults, who are more vulnerable. Hospitalisation patterns, including repeated admissions and prolonged stays, reflect the intensive and costly medical care required following falls. These findings underscore the need for early frailty detection, targeted fall prevention, and integrated care strategies to reduce hospitalisations and support healthy ageing.

Bio(s):

Aija Bukova-Zideluna holds a doctoral degree in medicine with a specialisation in public health and epidemiology. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Lead Researcher at the Institute of Public Health at Riga Stradiņš University, Latvia. She is also the SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) Country Team Leader for Latvia, responsible for coordinating and managing the survey nationally. Her research interests focus on the ageing population and injury prevention. In addition to her academic roles, she serves as the Deputy Chair of the Board of the Public Health Association of Latvia.