Husham Ahmed (Doha / QA), Ayman El-Menyar (Doha / QA), Rafael Consunji (Doha / QA), Naushad Ahmad Khan (Doha / QA), Mohammad Asim (Doha / QA), Hassan Al-Thani (Doha / QA), Sandro Rizoli (Doha / QA), Fouad Mustafa (Doha / QA), Adam Shunni (Doha / QA), Abu Baker Al Aieb (Doha / QA)
Introduction: Geriatric trauma is challenging in its prevention and management. The reason is multifactorial and related to the aging process, comorbid conditions, and decreased physiologic reserve. Aggressive management has shown to be successful in helping these vulnerable groups of injured patients gain a better quality of life. We aimed to analyze the prevalence, risk factors, and pattern of injuries among the geriatric population over ten years.
Method: A retrospective analysis of Qatar National Trauma Registry data was conducted from 2010 to 2021. The data included epidemiologic, type of injury, and clinical outcomes (including morbidity, disposition, length of stay, and mortality). Comparative analysis of data by age groups (55-64 vs.≥65 yrs.), gender (male vs. female), and outcome (survivors vs. deceased).
Results: Out of 15,000 trauma admissions, 1626 (11%) were geriatrics (mean age 65.5±9.5 yrs., female (17.5%), and mean injury severity score (ISS) of 12.9±8.8. The injury rate for the ≥ 65 was 24 per 10,000 compared to 10 per 10,000 in the younger group, showing a decreasing trend throughout the study. Thirty-five percent of injuries were at home. The most common mechanism of injury was falls (46%), followed by traffic-related injuries (45.5%). The most common injured regions were the chest (45%), lower limbs (31%), head (28%), and abdomen (11%). The median length of hospital stay was six days. Males had more head, chest, and abdominal injuries and higher mortality than females (9% vs. 4%). The deceased were three years older (62 vs. 59), had more head injuries, and received more blood with higher MTP activations. The overall mortality rate was 8%.
Conclusion: One out of ten trauma admissions aged ≥55 years. Falls are the main MOI, and one-third of injuries occur at home. There has been a significant decrease in geriatric injuries in our population over the years. Head injury and bleeding are the leading causes of mortality among the aging population.
Nothing to disclose and we have no conflict of interest
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