Traumatic brain injury in the elderly: A level 1 trauma centre study

Abstract

Objective: To explore the characteristics and outcome of patients with TBI over 65 years old admitted to an acute care Level 1 Trauma centre in Montreal, Canada.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected on patients (n = 1812) who were admitted post-TBI to the McGill University Health Centre-Montreal General Hospital from 2000–2011. The cohort was composed of four groups over 65 years old (65–75; 76–85; 86–95; and 96 and more). Outcome measures used were the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) as well as discharge destination.

Results: As the patients got older, the odds of having a poor outcome increased (OR = 2.344 for those 75–85 years old, 4.313 for those 86–95 years of age and 3.465 for those aged 96 years of age or older). Also, the proportion of patients going home or going home with out-patient rehabilitation decreased as age increased (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, the proportion of patients being discharged to long-term care facilities increased significantly as age increased (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This descriptive study provides a better understanding of characteristics and outcome of different age groups of patients with TBI all over 65 years old in Montreal, Canada.

• Ageing
• level 1 trauma centre
• older age
• outcome
• traumatic brain injury

Acknowledgements

We thank the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center for their support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.