Functional status, age, and long-term survival after trauma

The association between functional status in trauma survivors and long-term outcomes is unknown.

We performed an observational cohort study on adult trauma patients (≥18 years), who required admission to the intensive care unit and who survived hospitalization between 1997 and 2011. The exposure of interest was a functional status defined as bed mobility, transfers, and gait level assessed at the time of hospital discharge. Adjusted odds ratios were estimated by multivariable logistic regression models. The primary outcome was all-cause, postdischarge mortality.

We analyzed 3,565 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 55 (12.4) years; 60% were male, and 78% were white. The 720-day postdischarge mortality was 22.8%. In a logistic regression model, the lowest functional status category at hospital discharge was associated with 4-fold increased odds of 720-day postdischarge mortality (adjusted odds ratio 4.06 (95% confidence interval, 2.65-6.20, P < .001) compared with patients with independent functional status. We compared the odds of 720-day postdischarge mortality in patients with independent functional status and in patients in the lowest functional status category at hospital discharge. The odds of 720-day postdischarge mortality were stronger in older adults (≥65 years: adjusted odds ratio 3.34 [95% confidence interval, 1.72-6.50, P < .001]) than in younger adults (<65 years: adjusted odds ratio 2.53 [95% confidence interval, 1.39-4.60, P = .002]). Finally, improvement of functional status prior to discharge was associated with a 52% decrease in the odds of 720-day postdischarge mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.75; P < .001) compared with patients without a change in functional status prior to discharge.

In trauma intensive care unit survivors, functional status at hospital discharge is predictive of long-term mortality.