Cardiovascular Risk Score (SCORE2) Predicts The Incidence and Severity of Cardiac Damage After Polytrauma: How to...

Area of Science:

• Trauma Care
• Cardiology
• Clinical Risk Assessment

Background:

• Cardiac damage is a predictor of adverse outcomes in polytrauma (PT).
• Pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors may exacerbate post-traumatic cardiac dysfunction, particularly in older individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between cardiovascular risk and cardiac damage in polytrauma patients.
• To determine if cardiovascular risk influences clinical outcomes, including mortality, in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of 59 polytrauma patients at a German Level 1 Trauma Centre.
• Assessment of cardiac damage markers (Troponin T, NT-proBNP) and echocardiography (TTE) at various time points.
• Evaluation of cardiovascular risk using the SCORE2 algorithm, with subgroup analyses for chest trauma and high-risk patients.

Main Results:

• Significant correlations were found between SCORE2, Lp(a), and cardiac damage markers (TnT, NT-proBNP).
• Elevated SCORE2 was associated with non-survival, wall motion abnormalities, diastolic dysfunction, and relaxation disorders.
• High-risk patients with chest trauma showed increased arrhythmias and diastolic dysfunction; those without chest trauma had higher non-survival rates, linked to prior myocardial infarction.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular risk is a significant predictor of cardiac damage, echocardiographic abnormalities, and mortality in polytrauma.
• A history of myocardial infarction in high-risk polytrauma patients (elevated SCORE2) is associated with increased mortality.