Higher Risk of Mortality in Intentional Traumatic Injuries; A Multivariate Regression Analysis of a Trauma Registry

To assess whether intentional traumatic injuries are associated with higher mortality rate when compared to unintentional injuries.

Data from SweTrau (Swedish National Trauma Registry). Information regarding age, gender, injury severity score (ISS), new injury severity score (NISS), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate were collected via "SweTrau". "Mortality within 30 days of injury" was defined as having been registered as dead within 30 days following the injury. Intentional injuries compared to non-intentional injuries. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted. Stepwise forward and backward regression was conducted.

A total number of 3875 patients were included. There were 3613 (93%) non-intentional and 262 (7%) intentional patients. The 30-day mortality rate was higher in the intentional group compared to non-intentional group, 10% vs. 4% (p<0.001). Patients in the intentional group were younger than the non-intentional group, at 39±18 vs. 47±21 years old (p<0.001). In both, the forward and backward tests injury intention remained statistically significant with OR 2 (CI 1.1-3.7). Shock (OR 4.7, CI 2.9-7.8), Severe Head Injury (OR 8.9, CI 5.3-14.7), Age ≥ 60 (OR 6.7, CI 4.1-10.8), ISS ≥16 (OR 10.8, CI 6.9-16.9) and ASA (OR 3.5, CI 2.2-5.7) were other factors affecting mortality.

Injury intention was an independent factor contributing to mortality in our study. This particular cohort needs further attention during trauma management with a holistic insight to improve their survival.