Elderly trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit are different from the younger population

This study was undertaken to investigate the demographic profile of elderly (65 years old and over) patients with severe trauma admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Auckland Hospital and to compare their characteristics with those of the younger (under 65 years) trauma patients. A further aim was to see if specific areas of potential injury prevention could be identified.

Data analysis covering ten years, from January 1987 to December 1996, on data extracted from the existing database at the Intensive Care Unit of Auckland Hospital.

The elderly comprised 8.7% (183 of 2092) of the trauma admissions during the study period. The elderly, when compared with the younger group, were significantly more likely to be female, New Zealand European and admitted as a result of a fall. They were significantly less likely to be drivers in a road traffic crash or, if a driver, to have a blood alcohol above the legal limit. Mortality in the older group (27.8%) was significantly higher, though median injury severity score (25) and length of stay (57.9 hours) were similar.

Elderly trauma patients in the Intensive Care Unit are a group with distinctive demographics, mechanisms of injury, injury types and outcomes. This information needs to be considered for the future planning of trauma and prevention services in New Zealand.