The hidden epidemiology of trauma in Nunavik: a call for a dedicated trauma registry

Delivering trauma care in Nunavik is challenging. Despite the benefits of trauma registries, no routine data collection captures data from Nunavik patients in Quebec's provincial database. We sought to compare trauma epidemiology from data collected on site in Nunavik with data from a governmental registry at a tertiary centre, hypothesizing sufficient cohort differences to justify a dedicated registry.

We conducted a retrospective review of 2 cohorts (2015 to 2019). The first cohort included patients at Kuujjuaq's Centre de santé Tulattavik de l'Ungava or Puvirnituq's Centre de santé Inuulitisivik (the Nunavik cohort) and the second cohort included patients admitted to the provincial referral centre for the Nunavimmiut at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH). Nunavik data were collected through chart review, while MGH data were obtained from the McGill University Health Centre Trauma Registry. We analyzed patient demographics, injury mechanisms, transfer characteristics, and modifiable risk factors using descriptive statistics.

We identified 776 patients in the Nunavik cohort, of whom 42.0% were transferred to the MGH. Of all 776 trauma patients in Nunavik, only 14.3% were captured in the trauma registry. Among those transferred to the MGH, 33.9% were recorded in the registry, highlighting a gap in data representation. Patients in the Nunavik cohort were significantly younger (30 yr v. 37 yr, p < 0.001) and more often female (51.0% v. 38.8%, p < 0.001). Mechanisms of injury and vital signs also differed significantly (p < 0.001).

Data from many patients from Nunavik are not captured in the governmental database, with the trauma epidemiology in the region significantly differing from those presenting to the tertiary centre. A dedicated prospective, sustainable registry is needed to improve quality of care and outcomes in Nunavik.