ABSTRACT
Falls among older adults with dementia constitute a major public health concern, as they restrict activities of daily living and social participation and may lead to serious complications and increased mortality. Given the growing prevalence ...
ABSTRACT
Falls among older adults with dementia constitute a major public health concern, as they restrict activities of daily living and social participation and may lead to serious complications and increased mortality. Given the growing prevalence of dementia and the expansion of community-based care services, understanding injury characteristics and care-related vulnerabilities among this population is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. This study aimed to examine injury occurrence characteristics among hospitalized patients with dementia and to analyze vulnerabilities in care services according to age and residential region.
Methods
This study analyzed data from theIn-depth Survey of Discharged Injury Patientsconducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency between 2015 and 2024. A total of26,112 patientsaged 65 years or older with a primary diagnosis of dementia (ICD-10 codes F00–F03) were included in the final analysis. Descriptive statistics, complex sample cross-tabulation analyses, and complex sample logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics 29.0. Variables included demographic characteristics, hospitalization information, external causes of injury, injury mechanisms, injury-related activities, and hospital characteristics.
Results
Most injuries among patients with dementia were unintentional, with falls occurring predominantly during daily activities and within residential settings. Logistic regression analysis revealed that injury intentionality, place of injury occurrence, and activity at the time of injury were significantly associated with older age groups. Additionally, regional differences were observed in hospitalization patterns and healthcare utilization. Patients residing in small cities and rural areas were more likely to experience longer hospital stays and to receive care in mid-sized hospitals, reflecting structural limitations in healthcare and care-service accessibility.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that injury risk among older adults with dementia is influenced not only by individual functional decline but also by age- and region-specific care environments. These results underscore the need forage- and region-tailored fall prevention strategies, enhanced home-based safety management, and strengthened care-service infrastructure in underserved areas. This study provides empirical evidence to support policy interventions aimed at reducing injury risk and improving the safety and quality of care for older adults with dementia.
Keywords:dementia, injury characteristics, regional disparities, care-service vulnerability, injury prevention