Sotaa, Bhavini
(2024)
Falls and Social Vulnerability Index: Association among the older population in Allegheny County, PA.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Background
Falls constitute a major public health concern for the U.S. geriatric population. Despite affecting all age groups, older adults experience higher rates of fall-related morbidity and mortality. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) indicates the social determinants of health that impact different regions and it would be significant to study its association with falls among this demographic. The public health relevance of this association in Allegheny County is indicated by the large proportion of its residential population belonging to this age group.
Objectives
This study aims to explore the association between the occurrence of falls and regional social vulnerability. Its objective is to assess the correlation between SVI and fall-related outcomes on a census tract level for Allegheny County residents aged ≥55 years.
Methods
Hospitalization data (2016-2020) from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council and mortality data (2016-2020) from the Pennsylvania Department of Health were used to calculate fall-outcome rates by census tracts. These rates were analyzed using SAS 9.4 and descriptive statistics were calculated for age, sex, and race, with trends visualized in Microsoft Excel. Percentile-based SVI rankings ranging between 0 and 0.999, as determined by the CDC were used for the county, and negative binomial regression was used to assess the association between these two.
Results
The occurrence of fall-associated hospitalizations and mortality were highest in those ≥75 years— 40.22% and 78.62% respectively. These were also the highest among those who identified as White, accounting for 77.39% of hospitalizations and 92.64% of all mortality due to falls. The mean overall SVI ranking for the census tracts of Allegheny County was 0.427. For the 342 census tracts, no significant association was found between SVI and fall-related outcomes following a negative binomial regression.
Discussion
Those ≥75 years and those who identified as White were disproportionally affected. No significant association was found between fall-related outcomes and SVI. The public health significance of these findings within this population is that they can be used to identify groups that need additional targeted interventions to reduce fall-related outcomes.
Keywords
Falls, Older population, Social Vulnerability, Allegheny County
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Fabio, Anthony | AFABIO@pitt.edu | AFABIO | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Culyba, Alison | AJC204@pitt.edu | AJC204 | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Strotmeyer, Stephen | stephen.strotmeyer@pitt.edu | stephen.strotmeyer | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
3 January 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Number of Pages: |
54 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Falls, Older population, Social Vulnerability, Allegheny County |
| Date Deposited: |
03 Jan 2024 14:34 |
| Last Modified: |
03 Jan 2024 14:34 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/45710 |
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