Evaluation of falls in older persons in the emergency department during the early Coronavirus-2019 pandemic and pre-pandemic periods

Key summary points Aim This study aimed to investigate the clinical status, outcomes, and healthcare costs of older patients who presented at the emergency department (ED) with falls in the periods before and during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Findings Though the number of fall-related presentations of older persons to the ED, comorbidity burden, consultations, and the length of stay in the ED was lower, direct costs were higher during the pandemic period than the pre-pandemic period, particularly for COVID-19 positive older patients admitted to the ED with falls, and those patients were with poorer outcomes. Message As older patients with falls and multi-comorbidities might have experienced difficulties to reach the ED or avoided to apply during the pandemic period, strengthening community-based health services, and organizing EDs according to the needs of older patients are critical measures for crises situations.