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. 2024 Mar;11(1):79-87.
doi: 10.15441/ceem.23.074. Epub 2023 Nov 29.

Characteristics of fall-from-height patients: a retrospective comparison of jumpers and fallers using a multi-institutional registry

Jinhae Jun  1 , Ji Hwan Lee  1 , Juhee Han  1 , Sun Hyu Kim  2 , Sunpyo Kim  3 , Gyu Chong Cho  4 , Eun Jung Park  5 , Duk Hee Lee  6 , Ju Young Hong  1 , Min Joung Kim  1
Affiliations

Characteristics of fall-from-height patients: a retrospective comparison of jumpers and fallers using a multi-institutional registry

Jinhae Jun et al. Clin Exp Emerg Med. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Fall from height (FFH) is a major public health problem that can result in severe injury, disability, and death. This study investigated how the characteristics of jumpers and fallers differ.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of FFH patients enrolled in an Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) registry between 2011 and 2018. Depending on whether the injury was intentional, FFH patients who had fallen from a height of at least 1 m were divided into two groups: jumpers and fallers. Patient characteristics, organ damage, and death were compared between the two groups, and factors that significantly affected death were identified using multivariable logistic analysis.

Results: Among 39,419 patients, 1,982 (5.0%) were jumpers. Of the jumpers, 977 (49.3%) were male, while 30,643 (81.9%) of fallers were male. The jumper group had the highest number of individuals in their 20s, with the number decreasing as age increased. In contrast, the number of individuals in the faller group rose until reaching their 50s, after which it declined. More thoracoabdominal, spinal, and brain injuries were found in jumpers. The in-hospital mortality of jumpers and fallers was 832 (42.0%) and 1,268 (3.4%), respectively. Intentionality was a predictor of in-hospital mortality, along with sex, age, and fall height, with an odds ratio of 7.895 (95% confidence interval, 6.746-9.240).

Conclusion: Jumpers and fallers have different epidemiological characteristics, and jumpers experienced a higher degree of injury and mortality than fallers. Differentiated prevention and treatment strategies are needed for jumpers and fallers to reduce mortality in FFH patients.

Keywords: Accidental falls; Suicide; Suicide prevention; Wounds and injuries.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors have are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flowchart of patient selection.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Distribution according to the sex and age of (A) jumpers and (B) fallers.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Distribution of emergency department arrival time of jumpers and fallers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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