Frailty and 6-month trajectory of elderly trauma patients over the age of 65 years admitted to intensive care unit for severe trauma: experience of a level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: The aging global population forecasts a significant rise in severe trauma cases among individuals aged 65 and above. Frailty emerges as a paramount predictor of post-traumatic outcomes, surpassing age and trauma severity indices. Despite this, scant attention is given to the trajectory of elderly patients post-intensive care unit (ICU) stay following severe trauma, justifying this study. The objective of this study was to analyze trajectories (frailty, place of residence) following a major trauma requiring an ICU stay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted, leveraging data from a level 1 trauma center spanning 2018 to 2023. Inclusion criteria included elderly patients aged 65 and above admitted to the ICU for severe trauma. Data encompassed demographic profiles, trauma severity scores, clinical parameters, and frailty assessments sourced from the Traumabase database. RESULTS: Among 293 patients included 190 were non-frail, frailty was correlated with elevated mortality rates (114 (38.9%) at 6 months), heightened incidence of traumatic brain injuries, and notable declines in post-traumatic autonomy. Only 39.2% of patients had resumed residence at home six months post-injury, with a conspicuous trend towards institutionalization, particularly among frail individuals. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the role of frailty in determining the outcomes of elderly patients following severe trauma. Frailty is associated with higher mortality, increased rates of institutionalization, and a decline in functional status. These results highlight the importance of assessing frailty in the trajectory of severely injured patients over the age of 65 years-old.

Prognosis of major trauma in patients older than 85 years admitted to the ICU, a registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: The aging population in France and Western Europe is on the rise, particularly among individuals aged 65 years and older. Although older adults are susceptible to traumatic injuries, they constitute a minority of trauma center admissions especially those aged 85 and above. The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic factors for mortality among the older old population (aged 85 years and above) managed in ICU of Traumabase group trauma centers. METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study, conducted from 2013 to 2022, analyzed all severely injured older patients (aged ≥ 85 years) managed in 14 ICU trauma centers enrolled in the Traumabase registry. The study examined sociodemographic, clinical, and outcome variables. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale. RESULTS: Among the 365 older trauma patients, 190 (52.1%) were classified as non-frail (CFS 1-3), 80 (21.9%) as pre-frail (CFS 4,5), and 95 (26%) as frail (CFS 6-9). Falls were the most common mechanism of injury. High mortality rates were observed, with 43.5% ICU mortality and 45.5% mortality at day 30. Factors most associated with ICU mortality included traumatic brain injury (CGS < 13), pre-hospital micromethod hemoglobin < 13 and severity of injury (ISS > 16). CONCLUSION: Factors such as traumatic brain injury and severe hemorrhage (micromethod hemoglobin < 13) and ISS > 16 are associated with ICU mortality in in patients older than 85 years trauma patient. Early geriatric intervention is crucial for optimizing outcomes in this vulnerable population.