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. 2017 Jul 5;14(7):e1002322.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002322. eCollection 2017 Jul.

Long-term health status and trajectories of seriously injured patients: A population-based longitudinal study

Belinda J Gabbe  1   2 , Pam M Simpson  1 , Peter A Cameron  1   3 , Jennie Ponsford  4   5 , Ronan A Lyons  1   2 , Alex Collie  1   6 , Mark Fitzgerald  7   8 , Rodney Judson  9 , Warwick J Teague  10   11   12 , Sandra Braaf  1 , Andrew Nunn  13 , Shanthi Ameratunga  14 , James E Harrison  15
Affiliations

Long-term health status and trajectories of seriously injured patients: A population-based longitudinal study

Belinda J Gabbe et al. PLoS Med. .

Abstract

Background: Improved understanding of the quality of survival of patients is crucial in evaluating trauma care, understanding recovery patterns and timeframes, and informing healthcare, social, and disability service provision. We aimed to describe the longer-term health status of seriously injured patients, identify predictors of outcome, and establish recovery trajectories by population characteristics.

Methods and findings: A population-based, prospective cohort study using the Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR) was undertaken. We followed up 2,757 adult patients, injured between July 2011 and June 2012, through deaths registry linkage and telephone interview at 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-months postinjury. The 3-level EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) was collected, and mixed-effects regression modelling was used to identify predictors of outcome, and recovery trajectories, for the EQ-5D-3L items and summary score. Mean (SD) age of participants was 50.8 (21.6) years, and 72% were male. Twelve percent (n = 333) died during their hospital stay, 8.1% (n = 222) of patients died postdischarge, and 155 (7.0%) were known to have survived to 36-months postinjury but were lost to follow-up at all time points. The prevalence of reporting problems at 36-months postinjury was 37% for mobility, 21% for self-care, 47% for usual activities, 50% for pain/discomfort, and 41% for anxiety/depression. Continued improvement to 36-months postinjury was only present for the usual activities item; the adjusted relative risk (ARR) of reporting problems decreased from 6 to 12 (ARR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83-0.90), 12 to 24 (ARR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98), and 24 to 36 months (ARR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99). The risk of reporting problems with pain or discomfort increased from 24- to 36-months postinjury (ARR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12). While loss to follow-up was low, there was responder bias with patients injured in intentional events, younger, and less seriously injured patients less likely to participate; therefore, these patient subgroups were underrepresented in the study findings.

Conclusions: The prevalence of ongoing problems at 3-years postinjury is high, confirming that serious injury is frequently a chronic disorder. These findings have implications for trauma system design. Investment in interventions to reduce the longer-term impact of injuries is needed, and greater investment in primary prevention is needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow of participants through the study.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Percentage (95% confidence intervals [CI]) of patients reporting problems on each 3-level EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) item at each time point postinjury.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Summary of the multivariable modelling: Covariates predictive of reporting problems on each 3-level EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) item at follow-up.
(Factors predictive of all outcomes shown in bold and italics).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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