Dementia and injury-related hospitalisations

Injury-related hospitalisations in people with dementia – causes, consequences and costs

An old woman sitting in a chair

Project members - Macquarie University

Project main description

Individuals with dementia have higher hospitalisation rates than individuals without dementia, and injury has recently been shown to be the most common cause of hospitalisation for people with dementia. Despite this, little is known about the hospitalisation experience for people with dementia who have sustained an injury.

This research involves a retrospective epidemiological study that is using linked hospitalisation and mortality data of individuals aged 50 years and older to investigate the impact of dementia on patient outcomes for injury-related hospitalisation in NSW across a 10 year period. A one year look-back period is being used to identify patient comorbidities. Estimates of the cost of care for injury for dementia suffers will also be derived. Findings from this research will provide much needed information on the impact of injury on the person with dementia and the health system more generally.

Publications

Harvey LA, Toson B, Brodaty H, Draper B, Kochan N, Sachdev P et al. (2019) Injury-related hospitalisation in community-dwelling older people across the cognitive spectrum: a population based study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 83(July–August):155-160.
Mitchell R. Draper B. Harvey L. Brodaty H. Close J. (2017) The survival and characteristics of older people with and without dementia who are hospitalised following intentional self-harm. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 32 (8) 892-900.
Lukaszyk C. Harvey L. Sherrington C. Close JCT. Coombes J. Mitchell R. Moore R. Ivers R. (2017). Fall-related injury hospitalisations for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other older Australians in New South Wales, Australia. MJA 207 (1) 31-35.
Mitchell R. Draper B. Harvey L. Brodaty H. Close J. (2017) The association of physical illness and self-harm resulting in hospitalisation among older people in a population-based study. Aging and Mental Health 21 (3) 279-288.
Harvey L. Mitchell R. Brodaty H. Draper B. Close J. (2016) Differing trends in fall-related fracture and non-fracture injuries in older people with and without dementia. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 67, 61-67.
Sukumar D. Harvey L. Mitchell R. Close J. (2016) The impact of geographical location on trends in hospitalisation rates and outcomes for fall-related injuries in older people. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 40, 4 342-348.
Harvey L. Mitchell R. Brodaty H. Draper B. Close J. (2016) Dementia: a risk factor for burns in the elderly. Burns 42, 282-290.
Harvey L. Mitchell R. Brodaty H. Draper B. Close J. (2016) The influence of dementia on injury-related hospitalisations of older people in Australia. Injury 47, 226-234.
Mitchell R. Harvey L. Brodaty H. Draper B. Close J. (2015) Dementia and intentional and unintentional poisoning in older people: a 10 year review of hospitalization records in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. International Psychogeriatrics, 27 (11) 1757-1768.

Project sponsors

Dementia Collaborative Research Centres

Collaborators

Dr Lara Harvey (Project Lead)
Falls and Injury Prevention Group, Neuroscience Research Australia
Professor Jacqui Close
Falls and Injury Prevention Group, Neuroscience Research Australia
Professor Kirsten Howard
School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Professor Henry Brodaty
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales
Professor Brian Draper
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales

Related projects

Dementia and injury rehabilitation

Dementia and residential aged care

CareTrack Aged

Project status

Completed

Centres related to this project

Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science

Content owner: Australian Institute of Health Innovation Last updated: 11 Mar 2024 3:50pm

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