Trauma associated with cardiac dysrhythmias: results from a large matched case-control study

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Published on: December 2, 2016

Rovshan M Ismailov1, Roberta B Ness, Carol K Redmond

  • 1Bio Med Center for Population Health and Clinic Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02940, USA. rovshani@yahoo.com

The Journal of Trauma
|May 15, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Blunt cardiac injury significantly increases the risk of cardiac dysrhythmia in hospitalized patients. This association was observed across different age groups, highlighting the importance of recognizing trauma-induced arrhythmias.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cardiac dysrhythmias are known complications of blunt cardiac and thoracic trauma.
  • Previous reports were primarily based on case series.
  • The association between blunt cardiac injury and dysrhythmia in a large population remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if thoracic or blunt cardiac injury is associated with cardiac dysrhythmia.
  • To analyze this association in a large, multistate hospitalized population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of hospital discharge data from 986 hospitals across 33 states in 2001.
  • Matched case-control study design, with controls matched by age.
  • Identification of exposure (thoracic trauma, blunt cardiac injury) and outcome (cardiac dysrhythmias) using ICD-9-CM codes.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

Main Results:

  • Blunt cardiac injury was a significant risk factor for cardiac dysrhythmia.
  • Patients 50 years and younger with blunt cardiac injury had a fourfold increased risk.
  • Patients 51 to 70 years old with blunt cardiac injury had a twofold increased risk, independent of confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Blunt cardiac injury is a significant risk factor for developing cardiac dysrhythmia.
  • Further longitudinal studies are recommended to better establish the trauma-dysrhythmia association.
Abstract

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