Three-year mortality postdischarge was nearly triple that of the general population.
Death statistics typically are measured for as long as 30 days after trauma and might not accurately reflect the long-term efficacy of trauma care. In a retrospective cohort study, these authors linked a state trauma registry and death certificates for all 124,421 adult patients (mean age, 53; 24% ≥75; 59% men) who were admitted for more than 48 hours to 1 of 78 trauma hospitals in Washington State in 1995 through 2008. Patients with burns on >20% of their bodies were excluded. Mortality follow-up was through 2008.
Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 10.9, and 5.8% of patients died during trauma hospitalization. Among 117,178 patients discharged alive, cumulative mortality at 1 and 3 years postdischarge was 9.8% and 16.0%, respectively. Mor…