Geriatric Trauma Screening Tool: Preinjury Functional Status Dictates Intensive Care Unit Discharge Disposition

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Trauma Care
• Clinical Risk Stratification
• Trauma Surgery Outcomes

Background:

• Older adults represent a growing segment of trauma patients, experiencing poorer outcomes than younger individuals.
• There is a need for accessible tools to categorize risk among geriatric trauma patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Geriatric Trauma Screening Tool (GTST) for risk stratification of older adults admitted to the ICU.
• To assess the GTST's ability to predict discharge disposition in this population.

Main Methods:

• Prospective screening of 150 patients aged 65 years or older using the GTST.
• Assessment of high-risk (HR) injuries, comorbidities, and prehospital function.
• Analysis of GTST screening results against patient disposition and length of stay.

Main Results:

• Patients screening as HR were more likely to have an unfavorable disposition and longer ICU/hospital stays.
• Prior functional impairment was a significant predictor of unfavorable discharge disposition.
• Pre-injury functional status proved a stronger predictor than HR injuries or comorbidities.

Conclusions:

• The GTST effectively predicts discharge disposition in geriatric trauma patients admitted to the ICU.
• Pre-injury functional status is a critical factor in determining outcomes for older trauma patients.
• Risk stratification facilitates early care transition planning and optimizes hospital resource utilization.