The role of cardiac morbidity in short- and long-term mortality in injured older patients who survive initial resuscitation.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND: Elderly patients are an increasingly larger group of injured trauma care patients. Comorbidities influence outcome. Little is known of short- and long-term mortality in the elderly who survive initial resuscitation. METHODS: Short- and long-term mortality was retrospectively analyzed in 363 consecutively injured patients (Injury severity score >15) surviving more than 3 days after admission to a level 1 trauma center (including 197 patients >60 years). Cardiac morbidity was the focus. RESULTS: Survival to hospital discharge was similar comparing older patients with the entire group. Mortality increased incrementally with age. In older patients, cardiac morbidity was observed in 28% (fatal in 7); 2-year mortality was 36% (older group) and 60% (patients sustaining cardiac complications). Most elderly (80%) were discharged to long-term care. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly who survive initial resuscitation are as likely to survive to discharge as younger patients, but long-term survival is significantly lower as age increases. Cardiac morbidity is associated with higher long-term mortality. Most elderly are discharged to long-term care.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Gallagher, SF; Williams, B; Gomez, C; DesJardins, C; Swan, S; Durham, RM; Flint, LM
Published Date
- February 2003
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 185 / 2
Start / End Page
- 131 - 134
PubMed ID
- 12559442
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0002-9610
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/s0002-9610(02)01208-4
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States