Impact of chronic medical conditions on mortality in geriatric trauma, 10-year analysis of a single centre in Turkey

Abstract

Background

The healthy and active lifestyle adopted by the elderly as a result of improvements in the standards of living may lead to an increase in the risk of injury. Comorbidities increase the risk of posttraumatic complications and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic medical conditions (CMCs) on the risk of mortality in geriatric trauma patients.

Methods

All geriatric trauma patients admitted to emergency department over a 10-year period were retrospectively analysed. Patients were stratified by baseline characteristics, injury severity score (ISS), presence of CMCs, and in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine variables significantly associated with in-hospital mortality.

Results

9455 patients included in the study. The median age was 74 (10) years and 57% of them were female. The presence of ≥1 CMC and ≥2 CMCs increased the risk of mortality 5.64 and 2.38 times respectively in mild traumas and 2.67 and 2.59 times respectively in moderate traumas. Age, ISS and penetrating traumas had a significant impact on the risk of mortality in all ISS groups. In severe traumas, only renal disease had an impact on the risk of mortality (OR = 2.58, 95%CI = 1.03–6.43, p = 0.042). All other CMCs, ≥1 CMC, and ≥2 CMCs had no impact on the risk of mortality.

Conclusion

The presence of CMCs in elderly patients with mild and moderate injuries increases the risk of mortality. Such patients should be diagnosed and treated more quickly and aggressively during the prehospital process and in the hospital.

Keywords:

• Chronic medical conditions
• geriatric trauma
• injury severity score
• in-hospital mortality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).