Impact of hospital volume on mortality in patients with severe torso injury

Whether a positive volume-outcome relationship exists in the context of trauma remains controversial. Heterogeneity in the definition of hospital volume in previous studies is one of the main reasons for this inconclusiveness. We investigated whether hospital volume is associated with mortality in patients with severe torso injury using two different definitions of hospital volume.

This retrospective cohort study used the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan. Patients who were admitted to tertiary emergency centers with severe torso injury and underwent emergency surgery or interventional radiology treatment for the torso injury upon admission from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2014 were included. Hospital volume was defined as the annual number of admissions with severe torso injury (HV-torso) or the annual number of total trauma admissions (HV-all). The main outcome was 28-d mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models fitted with generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate relationships between hospital volume and 28-d mortality.

Overall, 7725 patients were included. The 28-d mortality rate was 15.3%. The HV-torso was significantly associated with reduced 28-d mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval = 0.44-0.79). However, there was no significant association between the HV-all and mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval = 0.72-1.46).

The HV-torso was significantly associated with reduced mortality in patients with severe torso injury. In contrast, the HV-all had no significant relationship with their mortality. Regionalization of trauma care for severe torso injury may be beneficial for patients with severe torso injury.