The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the UK, the 2009/10 winter was characterised by sustained low temperatures; grit stocks became depleted and surfaces left untreated. We describe the relationship between temperature and emergency hospital admissions for falls on s...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2011-06-01
|
Series: | Environmental Health |
Online Access: | http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/60 |
id |
doaj-e4ba2c4b5dc147c3aaefdf8d43e6125e |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-e4ba2c4b5dc147c3aaefdf8d43e6125e2020-11-24T21:13:30ZengBMCEnvironmental Health1476-069X2011-06-011016010.1186/1476-069X-10-60The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysisBellis Mark AMurphy KarenMason JennyRobinson MarkJarman IanWyke SachaBeynon CarylPerkins Clare<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the UK, the 2009/10 winter was characterised by sustained low temperatures; grit stocks became depleted and surfaces left untreated. We describe the relationship between temperature and emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England, identify the age and gender of those most likely to be admitted, and estimate the inpatient costs of these admissions during the 2009/10 winter.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hospital Episode Statistics were used to identify episodes of emergency admissions for falls on snow and ice during winters 2005/06 to 2009/10; these were plotted against mean winter temperature. By region, the logs of the rates of weekly emergency admissions for falls on snow and ice were plotted against the mean weekly temperature for winters 2005/06 to 2009/10 and a linear regression analysis undertaken. For the 2009/10 winter the number of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice were plotted by age and gender. The inpatient costs of admissions in the 2009/10 winter for falls on snow and ice were calculated using Healthcare Resource Group costs and Admitted Patient Care 2009/10 National Tariff Information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of emergency hospital admissions due to falls on snow and ice varied considerably across years; the number was 18 times greater in 2009/10 (N = 16,064) than in 2007/08 (N = 890). There is an exponential increase [Ln(rate of admissions) = 0.456 - 0.463*(mean weekly temperature)] in the rate of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice as temperature falls. The rate of admissions in 2009/10 was highest among the elderly and particularly men aged 80 and over. The total inpatient cost of falls on snow and ice in the 2009/10 winter was 42 million GBP.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice vary greatly across winters, and according to temperature, age and gender. The cost of these admissions in England in 2009/10 was considerable. With responsibility for health improvement moving to local councils, they will have to balance the cost of public health measures like gritting with the healthcare costs associated with falls. The economic burden of falls on snow and ice is substantial; keeping surfaces clear of snow and ice is a public health priority.</p> http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/60 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Bellis Mark A Murphy Karen Mason Jenny Robinson Mark Jarman Ian Wyke Sacha Beynon Caryl Perkins Clare |
spellingShingle |
Bellis Mark A Murphy Karen Mason Jenny Robinson Mark Jarman Ian Wyke Sacha Beynon Caryl Perkins Clare The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis Environmental Health |
author_facet |
Bellis Mark A Murphy Karen Mason Jenny Robinson Mark Jarman Ian Wyke Sacha Beynon Caryl Perkins Clare |
author_sort |
Bellis Mark A |
title |
The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis |
title_short |
The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis |
title_full |
The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis |
title_fullStr |
The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis |
title_sort |
cost of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in england during winter 2009/10: a cross sectional analysis |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Environmental Health |
issn |
1476-069X |
publishDate |
2011-06-01 |
description |
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the UK, the 2009/10 winter was characterised by sustained low temperatures; grit stocks became depleted and surfaces left untreated. We describe the relationship between temperature and emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice in England, identify the age and gender of those most likely to be admitted, and estimate the inpatient costs of these admissions during the 2009/10 winter.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hospital Episode Statistics were used to identify episodes of emergency admissions for falls on snow and ice during winters 2005/06 to 2009/10; these were plotted against mean winter temperature. By region, the logs of the rates of weekly emergency admissions for falls on snow and ice were plotted against the mean weekly temperature for winters 2005/06 to 2009/10 and a linear regression analysis undertaken. For the 2009/10 winter the number of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice were plotted by age and gender. The inpatient costs of admissions in the 2009/10 winter for falls on snow and ice were calculated using Healthcare Resource Group costs and Admitted Patient Care 2009/10 National Tariff Information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of emergency hospital admissions due to falls on snow and ice varied considerably across years; the number was 18 times greater in 2009/10 (N = 16,064) than in 2007/08 (N = 890). There is an exponential increase [Ln(rate of admissions) = 0.456 - 0.463*(mean weekly temperature)] in the rate of emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice as temperature falls. The rate of admissions in 2009/10 was highest among the elderly and particularly men aged 80 and over. The total inpatient cost of falls on snow and ice in the 2009/10 winter was 42 million GBP.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Emergency hospital admissions for falls on snow and ice vary greatly across winters, and according to temperature, age and gender. The cost of these admissions in England in 2009/10 was considerable. With responsibility for health improvement moving to local councils, they will have to balance the cost of public health measures like gritting with the healthcare costs associated with falls. The economic burden of falls on snow and ice is substantial; keeping surfaces clear of snow and ice is a public health priority.</p> |
url |
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/60 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT bellismarka thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT murphykaren thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT masonjenny thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT robinsonmark thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT jarmanian thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT wykesacha thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT beynoncaryl thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT perkinsclare thecostofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT bellismarka costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT murphykaren costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT masonjenny costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT robinsonmark costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT jarmanian costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT wykesacha costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT beynoncaryl costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis AT perkinsclare costofemergencyhospitaladmissionsforfallsonsnowandiceinenglandduringwinter200910acrosssectionalanalysis |
_version_ |
1716748929580662784 |