A Case Series of Concomitant Falls and COVID-19 Infection Among Older Adults

Falls and COVID-19 Among Older Adults

Abstract

Introduction.  Few studies have examined the hospital course and patient outcomes among elderly trauma patients with COVID-19 and traumatic fall-related injuries. This study aimed to describe patient characteristics and hospital outcomes for older adults who sustained fall-related injuries and were concurrently infected with COVID-19.

Methods. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients 65 years or older admitted to a level 1 trauma center between March 3, 2020 and March 3, 2021 with fall-related injuries.

Results. Of the 807 patients who presented for fall-related injuries during the study timeframe, 16% (n=128) were tested for COVID-19, with 17% (n=22) testing positive. One patient was excluded, resulting in 21 patients included for analysis. Common presenting comorbidities were hypertension (86%, n=18), dyslipidemia (57%, n=12), or diabetes (43%, n=9). On admission, 62% (n=13) of patients had respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and hypoxemia. Approximately one-fourth (n=5) of patients were asymptomatic for COVID-19 on presentation. Most overall complications included unplanned intensive care unit or operating room visits (29%, n=6). COVID-19-related complications included acute hypoxic respiratory failure (67%, n=14) and pneumonia (43%, n=9). Nineteen percent of patients (n=4) patients died in hospital.

Conclusions. Study findings suggest that elderly fall patients admitted with COVID-19 experienced a high frequency of complications and in-hospital mortality. Therefore, it is important to recognize COVID-19 as a severe and potentially lethal comorbidity among older adults who experience fall-related injuries.