Childhood adversities and risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression following a motor vehicle collision in adulthood.

AIMS: Childhood adversities (CAs) predict heightened risks of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among people exposed to adult traumatic events. Identifying which CAs put individuals at greatest risk for these adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS) is important for targeting prevention interventions. METHODS: Data came from n = 999 patients ages 18-75 presenting to 29 U.S. emergency departments after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) and followed for 3 months, the amount of time traditionally used to define chronic PTSD, in the Advancing Understanding of Recovery After Trauma (AURORA) study. Six CA types were self-reported at baseline: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect and bullying. Both dichotomous measures of ever experiencing each CA type and numeric measures of exposure frequency were included in the analysis. Risk ratios (RRs) of these CA measures as well as complex interactions among these measures were examined as predictors of APNS 3 months post-MVC. APNS was defined as meeting self-reported criteria for either PTSD based on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and/or MDE based on the PROMIS Depression Short-Form 8b. We controlled for pre-MVC lifetime histories of PTSD and MDE. We also examined mediating effects through peritraumatic symptoms assessed in the emergency department and PTSD and MDE assessed in 2-week and 8-week follow-up surveys. Analyses were carried out with robust Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Most participants (90.9%) reported at least rarely having experienced some CA. Ever experiencing each CA other than emotional neglect was univariably associated with 3-month APNS (RRs = 1.31-1.60). Each CA frequency was also univariably associated with 3-month APNS (RRs = 1.65-2.45). In multivariable models, joint associations of CAs with 3-month APNS were additive, with frequency of emotional abuse (RR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.43-2.87) and bullying (RR = 1.44; 95% CI = 0.99-2.10) being the strongest predictors. Control variable analyses found that these associations were largely explained by pre-MVC histories of PTSD and MDE. CONCLUSIONS: Although individuals who experience frequent emotional abuse and bullying in childhood have a heightened risk of experiencing APNS after an adult MVC, these associations are largely mediated by prior histories of PTSD and MDE.

Prior differences in previous trauma exposure primarily drive the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttrauma depression and anxiety following a recent trauma.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic groups in the USA differ in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research however has not observed consistent racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic stress in the early aftermath of trauma, suggesting that such differences in chronic PTSD rates may be related to differences in recovery over time. METHODS: As part of the multisite, longitudinal AURORA study, we investigated racial/ethnic differences in PTSD and related outcomes within 3 months after trauma. Participants (n = 930) were recruited from emergency departments across the USA and provided periodic (2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months after trauma) self-report assessments of PTSD, depression, dissociation, anxiety, and resilience. Linear models were completed to investigate racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic dysfunction with subsequent follow-up models assessing potential effects of prior life stressors. RESULTS: Racial/ethnic groups did not differ in symptoms over time; however, Black participants showed reduced posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms overall compared to Hispanic participants and White participants. Racial/ethnic differences were not attenuated after accounting for differences in sociodemographic factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in depression and anxiety were no longer significant after accounting for greater prior trauma exposure and childhood emotional abuse in White participants. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest prior differences in previous trauma exposure partially mediate the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms following a recent trauma. Our findings further demonstrate that racial/ethnic groups show similar rates of symptom recovery over time. Future work utilizing longer time-scale data is needed to elucidate potential racial/ethnic differences in long-term symptom trajectories.

Pain distribution and predictors of widespread pain in the immediate aftermath of motor vehicle collision.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is common after motor vehicle collision (MVC). The study objective was to evaluate distribution of pain and predictors of widespread musculoskeletal pain in the early aftermath (within 48 h) of collision. METHODS: European American adults aged 18-65 years presenting to the emergency department (ED) after collision who were discharged to home after evaluation were eligible. Evaluation included an assessment of reported pre-collision psychological characteristics, crash characteristics, current pain severity and location, and current psychological symptoms. Adjusted risk ratios were estimated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Among 890 participants included in the study, 589/890 (66%) had pain in three or more regions, and 192/890 (22%) had widespread musculoskeletal pain (pain in seven or more regions). In adjusted analyses, the presence of widespread pain was strongly associated with depressive and somatic symptoms prior to collision, pain catastrophizing, and acute psychological symptoms, and was not associated with most collision characteristics (road speed limit, extent of vehicle damage, collision type, driver vs. passenger, airbag deployment). The reported number of body regions that struck an object during the collision was associated with both reported pre-collision depressive symptoms and with widespread pain. CONCLUSION: More than one in five individuals presenting to the ED in the hours after MVC have widespread pain. Widespread pain is strongly associated with patient characteristics known to be modulated by supraspinal mechanisms, suggesting that stress-induced hyperalgesia may influence acute widespread pain after collision.

Spinal immobilization in the field: clinical clearance criteria and implementation.

Awareness of the health and financial repercussions of unnecessary immobilization has made cervical spinal immobilization controversial in out-of-hospital care. Clinical criteria for clearance of the cervical spine in the hospital based on mechanism of injury have been supported by many trauma centers. However, implementation of clinical criteria for cervical spinal clearance in out-of-hospital settings is not as well validated by multicenter studies or accepted by many emergency departments. This consensus group recommends that clinical criteria to determine "low-risk" patients be available for use by emergency medical services providers in out-of-hospital settings; however, training, audits, quality management, integration into the medical community, and extent of program implementation should be decided based on individual emergency medical services systems.

Optimal prehospital cardiovascular care.

Optimal prehospital cardiovascular care may improve the morbidity and mortality associated with acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) that begin in the community. Reducing the time delays from AMI symptom onset to intervention begins with maximizing effective patient education to reduce patient delay in recognizing symptoms and seeking assistance. Transportation delays can be minimized by appropriate use of 911 systems and improving technological 911 support. Patient triage to heart centers from the prehospital setting requires strict and comprehensive definition of the criteria for these centers by competent, unbiased clinical societies or governmental agencies. Prehospital 12-lead electrocardiograms and initiation of thrombolytic therapy can provide acute diagnosis and early treatment, thus facilitating faster processing and more directed in-hospital intervention. They also minimize over- and undertriage of patients to cardiac centers. Although evidence from investigational trials suggests that many of these procedures are effective, more research is required to ensure correct implementation and quality assurance at all emergency service levels.

The reliability of prehospital clinical evaluation for potential spinal injury is not affected by the mechanism of injury.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional EMS teaching identifies mechanism of injury as an important predictor of spinal injury. Clinical criteria to select patients for immobilization are being studied in Michigan and have been implemented in Maine. Maine requires automatic immobilization of patients with "a positive mechanism" clearly capable of producing spinal injury. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mechanism of injury affects the ability of clinical criteria to identify patients with spinal injury. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective cohort study, EMS personnel completed a check-off data sheet for prehospital spine-immobilized patients. Data included mechanism of injury and yes/no determinations of the clinical criteria: altered mental status, neurologic deficit, evidence of intoxication, spinal pain or tenderness, and suspected extremity fracture. Hospital outcome data included confirmation of spinal injury and treatment required. Mechanisms of injury were tabulated and rates of spinal injury for each mechanism were calculated. The patients were divided into three different high-risk and low-risk groups. RESULTS: Data were collected for 6,500 patients. There were 209 (3.2%) patients with spinal injuries identified. There were 1,058 patients with 100 (9.4%) injuries in the first high-risk mechanism group, and 5,423 patients with 109 (2%) injuries in the first low-risk group. Criteria identified 97 of 100 (97%) injuries in the high-risk group and 102 of 109 (94%) in the low-risk group. Two additional data divisions yielded identical results. CONCLUSION: Mechanism of injury does not affect the ability of clinical criteria to predict spinal injury in this population.

Does race or socioeconomic status predict adverse outcome after out of hospital cardiac arrest: a multi-center study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether socioeconomic status (SES) or race is associated with adverse outcome after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: A convenience sample of OHCA of presumed cardiac origin from seven suburban cities in Michigan, 1991-1996. Median household income (HHI), utilizing patient home address and 1990 census tract data, was dichotomized above and below 1990 state median income. Patient race was dichotomized as black or white. Outcome was defined as survival to hospital discharge (DC). Multiple logistic regression and Pearson's chi2 values were used for analysis. RESULTS: Of 1317 cases with complete data for analysis, the average age was 67.3 +/- 16.0, 939 (71.1%) were white, 587 (44.4%) arrests were witnessed (WIT), and 65 (4.9%) were DC alive. There was no significant difference between races with respect to WIT arrests, V(T)/V(F) arrest rhythms, and a small difference in EMS response interval. Whites were more likely to be above median HHI (57.1 vs. 26.2%, P < 0.001). Adjusted odds ratios for predictors of survival were WIT arrest (OR = 3.76, 95% CI (1.7, 8.2)), V(T)/V(F) (OR = 8.74, 95% CI (3.7, 10.8), but not race (OR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.3, 1.4)) or SES (OR = 1.51, 95% C1 0.8, 2.8). CONCLUSION: In this population, neither race nor SES was independently associated with a worse outcome after OHCA.

EMS systems: foundations for the future.

Emergency medical services (EMS) occupy a unique position in the continuum of emergency health care delivery. The role of EMS personnel is expanding beyond their traditional identity as out-of-hospital care providers, to include participation and active leadership in EMS administration, education, and research. With these roles come new challenges, as well as new responsibilities. This paper was developed by the SAEM EMS Task Force and provides a discussion of these new concepts as well as recommendations for the specialty of emergency medicine to foster the continued development of all of the potentials of EMS.

Prehospital clinical findings associated with spinal injury.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify clinical findings that are associated with spinal fracture and/or spinal cord injuries in prehospital trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed at three tertiary referral centers in Southeastern Michigan. All charts of patients with spinal fractures or spinal cord injuries during 1992 and 1993 were reviewed. Patients with available prehospital records were included in the study analysis. Prehospital data points included documentation of head injury; altered mental status; neurologic deficit; evidence of intoxication; cervical, thoracic, and lumbar pain or tenderness; nonspecified back pain or tenderness; and a narrative for all other documented injuries. Hospital data collected included type and level of spinal injury and age and sex of the patient. RESULTS: Of 867 injury patients identified, 536 were excluded, leaving 346 analyzable fractures in 331 patients. The 346 spinal fractures/spinal cord injuries were distributed as: 100 (29%) cervical, 83 (24%) thoracic, 128 (37%) lumbar, and 35 (10%) sacral. Prehospital documentation of altered mental status, neurologic deficit, evidence of intoxication, spinal pain, or suspected extremity fracture was found for every patient with a cervical injury, 82/83 patients with thoracic injuries (99%), and 124/128 patients with lumbar injuries (97%). All five patients who were not documented as having one of the predictors had stable injuries. CONCLUSION: Prehospital clinical findings of altered mental status, neurologic deficit, evidence of intoxication, spinal pain, and suspected extremity fracture were documented for all patients with significant spinal injuries in this series. These findings may be useful to identify patients who require prehospital spinal immobilization.

The development and evaluation of a paramedic-staffed mobile intensive care unit for inter-facility patient transport.

OBJECTIVE: As the role of paramedics evolves, evaluation of their ability to accomplish an expanded scope of practice is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine whether specially trained paramedics can monitor and treat patients appropriately during interfacility transports that traditionally have required the use of supplemental, hospital-based personnel. METHODS: A paramedic-staffed mobile intensive care unit was developed as a cooperative program between Huron Valley Ambulance and the Washtenaw/Livingston County Medical Control Authority. This prospective observational study involved 111 patients requiring interfacility transport, conveyed by a paramedic-staffed mobile intensive care unit. A change in the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score components of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate at the beginning and end of the transport was used to evaluate the ability of the paramedics to accomplish the transfer appropriately. RESULTS: APACHE II scores increased in 20 patients, decreased in 16, and were unchanged in 75. The mean value for the change in APACHE score was 0.11 (95% confidence interval: -0.11-0.33). CONCLUSION: Specially trained paramedics can monitor and treat patients appropriately during interfacility transfers that traditionally would have required supplementation with additional hospital staff.