Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32475351›Full record

ArticleInjury epidemiology2020

Epidemiology of traumatic falls after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

Laura Ramírez-Martínez, Mariella Chamah-Nicolás, Mariely Nieves-Plaza, Javier Ruiz-Rodríguez, Pedro Ruiz-Medina, Ediel O Ramos-Melendez, Pablo Rodríguez-Ortiz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Injury epidemiology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Laura Ramírez-MartínezPuerto Rico Trauma Hospital, PO Box 2129, San Juan, 00922, Puerto Rico. laura.ramirez@upr.edu.
Mariella Chamah-NicolásDepartment of Surgery, Trauma Research Program, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 365067, San Juan, 00967, Puerto Rico.
Mariely Nieves-PlazaPuerto Rico Trauma Hospital, PO Box 2129, San Juan, 00922, Puerto Rico.
Javier Ruiz-RodríguezPuerto Rico Trauma Hospital, PO Box 2129, San Juan, 00922, Puerto Rico.
Pedro Ruiz-MedinaPuerto Rico Trauma Hospital, PO Box 2129, San Juan, 00922, Puerto Rico.
Ediel O Ramos-MelendezPuerto Rico Trauma Hospital, PO Box 2129, San Juan, 00922, Puerto Rico.
Pablo Rodríguez-OrtizPuerto Rico Trauma Hospital, PO Box 2129, San Juan, 00922, Puerto Rico.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHurricanes are among the most devastating natural disasters, playing a significant role in public health. Currently, the epidemiology of fall-related injuries after the occurrence of a tropical storm is not well described. This study aims to compare the demographical patterns, clinical profile, hospital course, and costs of patients admitted to the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital before and after Hurricane Maria.

methodsA retrospective study was performed to compare fall-related injuries after the hurricane (September 20, 2017 - January 20, 2018) with a control period (same period in 2014-2016). Comparison between the groups was done using chi-square, Mann-Whitney test, and logistical regression.

resultsAfter the hurricane, there was an increase in the proportion of fall-related admissions in subjects aged 40-64 years (39.2% vs. 50.6%) and a decrease among those aged 18-39 years (16.0% vs. 5.9%), when compared with the previous years. A greater proportion of patients presented with work related injuries (3.9% vs. 9.4%). No significant differences were identified for sex, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, and hospital outcomes (hospital and intensive care unit days, mechanical ventilation, and mortality). Intracranial injuries were marginally higher post-Maria (p = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, during the post-Maria period, an increased risk of fall-related injuries was observed among subjects ≥40 years (OR: 3.20) and injuries related to recovery work (OR: 2.64) (p < 0.05).

conclusionsOur study shows that there is an increased risk of fall-related injuries among middle-aged individuals after a hurricane, causing significant changes in epidemiology. This study helps to elucidate the health consequences of falls and, in doing so, improves healthcare preparedness, interventions, and planning for future natural disasters.

Indexed as

Fall-related injuriesFallsHurricaneInjuryNatural disastersTrauma

Identifiers

PMID32475351
PMCPMC7262746

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.