World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Nov 2005
Mortality in severely injured elderly trauma patients--when does age become a risk factor?
Age is a well-known risk factor in trauma patients. The aim of the present study was to define the age-dependent cut-off for increasing mortality in multiple injured patients. Pre-existing medical conditions in older age and impaired age-dependent physiologic reserve contributing to a worse outcome in multiple injured elderly patients are discussed as reasons for increased mortality. ⋯ The incidence of lethal multiple organ failure increased significantly beginning at age 56 years (P < or = 0.05), but it showed no further increase in patients aged 76 years or older. In contrast, the incidence of lethal shock showed a significant increase from age 76 years (P < or = 0.05), but not at age 56 years. However, from age 56 years, mortality increased significantly in patients who sustained multiple trauma-an increase that was independent of trauma severity.