Ten-year trends of adult trauma patients in Central Denmark Region from 2010 to 2019: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Trauma causes significant economic and societal burdens, and the trauma patient population and their prognosis change over time. This study aims to analyze 10-year trends of trauma patients at a major trauma center in Central Denmark Region. METHODS: Five thousand three hundred and sixty-six patients aged ≥16 years with Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 0 admitted by trauma team activation at a major trauma center between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, were included. An annual percent change with a 95% confidence interval was used to estimate trends in the mechanism of injuries. Multiple logistic regression with mortality as the outcome was adjusted for age, sex, and ISS. Admission year was used as continuous variable in logistic regressions. RESULTS: The median age increased from 37 in 2010 to 49 in 2019, and the proportion of patients aged ≥65 doubled. The annual incidence of minor injuries (ISS 1-15) decreased from 181.3/105 inhabitants in 2010 to 112.7/105 in 2019. Severe injuries (ISS > 15) increased from 10.1/105 inhabitants in 2010 to 13.6/105 in 2019. The proportion of patients with ISS > 15 increased from 18.1% in 2010 to 31.1% in 2019. Multivariable logistic regression indicates lower 30-day mortality for all trauma patients over the study period when adjusting for age, sex, and ISS (odds ratio: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.99). The 30-day mortality for severely injured patients with ISS > 15 seems to decrease during the study period when adjusting for age, sex, and ISS (Odds ratio: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.97). Fall injuries increased by 4.1% annually (95% CI: 2.3%-6.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Ten-year trends of trauma patients at a major trauma center show an increasing median age, injury severity, and number of fall injuries. The 30-day mortality of trauma patients decreased slightly for both minor injuries and severe injuries when adjusting for age, sex, and injury severity.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic at a major Danish trauma center in 2020 compared with 2018-2019: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic demanded changes in societal behavior and health care worldwide. Previous studies have compared trauma patient admissions in COVID-19-related lockdowns to prior years. This study describes the COVID-19 impact on trauma patient admissions during entire 2020 at a major trauma center in Denmark. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients received by a trauma team and admitted at Aarhus University Hospital in 2020 compared with 2018-2019. The incidence of injuries, mechanism of injury, 30-day mortality, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were investigated. RESULTS: The incidence of minor injuries (ISS 1-15) increased by 24% in 2020 compared with 2018-2019 (incidence rate ratio 1.24 [95% CI: 1.11-1.39]). The incidence of severe injuries (ISS >15) in 2020 did not change compared with 2018-2019 (incidence rate ratio 0.97 [95% CI: 0.80-1.17]). The 30-day mortality was similar in 2020 compared with 2018-2019. Comparing 2020 with 2018-2019, the risk ratio of traffic injuries decreased (0.90 [95% CI: 0.82-0.99]), risk ratio for fall injuries was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.97-1.30), for violence 1.13 (95% CI: 0.51-2.50), and for self-harm 1.94 (95% CI: 0.95-3.94). During the first lockdown of 2020, trauma team activations declined from 49.5 to 42 and the risk ratio for traffic injuries was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.50-1.10) compared with the same period in 2018-2019. CONCLUSION: The incidence of minor injuries increased, but the incidence of severe injuries was similar in 2020 compared with 2018-2019. Societal restrictions might alter the mechanism of injuries. The first lockdown indicated an association with reduced traffic injuries.