• Katrina O'Leary, Bridget Kool, and Grant Christey.
• Trauma, Bay Of Plenty DHB, Tauranga.
• N. Z. Med. J. 2017 Oct 6; 130 (1463): 45-53.

AimTo describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained by older adult trauma patients admitted to hospitals in the Midland region (population 886,000) of New Zealand.MethodsA review of older adult (≥65 years) trauma cases from the Midland Trauma Registry for the three-year period January 2012 to December 2014 was conducted. Demographics, mechanism of injury, severity of injuries, processes of care and outcomes were analysed.ResultsOlder adults accounted for 14% (2,278/15,700) of all injury cases captured by the registry during the study period (average annualised incidence 585/100,000 population). The majority of injuries (90%) were minor in nature (ISS 0-12) and 65% resulted from unintentional falls. Falls was the most common mechanism in the major trauma group (38%), followed closely by road traffic crash (30%). Home was the leading place of injury (56%), followed by road/street/highway (15%). Injury rates were significantly higher among non-Māori than Māori.ConclusionThese findings illustrate the growing volumes and changing epidemiology of both major and minor trauma affecting older persons hospitalised following trauma in one of the four health regions of New Zealand. There is a need to prepare for an increase in demand for trauma services to meet the needs of an ageing population in New Zealand.

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