LO034: Does head injury matter? Comparison of functional outcomes in elderly who have sustained a minor trauma with or without head injury: a prospective multicenter cohort study. (2nd June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brousseau, A.; Emond, M.; Sirois, M.; Daoust, R.; Griffith, L.E.; Lang, E.; Lee, J.S.; Perry, J.J.; Ouellet, M.; Verreault, R.; Berthelot, S.; Mercier, E.; Allain-Boulé, N.; Boucher, V.; Tardif, P.; Le Sage, N.
• Is Part Of: CJEM. Volume 18(2016:Jan.)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S41
• Page End: S41
• Publication Date: 2016-06-02
• Subjects: head injury, -- elderly, -- functional outcomes; Emergency Treatment -- Periodicals; Emergency Medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency medical services -- Canada -- Periodicals; Medical emergencies -- Canada -- Periodicals; Emergency medical services; Medical emergencies; Canada; Periodicals; 616.02505
• DOI: 10.1017/cem.2016.71
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1481-8035

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: The older adult population is growing. The consequences of minor trauma involving a head injury (MT-HI) in independent older adults are largely unknown. This study assessed the impact of a MT-HI on the functional and cognitive outcomes six months post injury of older adults who sustained a minor trauma.Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study in eight sites included patients who were: aged 65 years or older, presenting to the emergency department (ED) within two weeks of injury with a chief complaint of a minor trauma, discharged within 48 hours, and independent for their basic activities of daily living prior to the ED visit. Participants underwent a baseline evaluation and a follow-up evaluation at six months post-injury. The main outcome was the functional decline measured with the Older Americans' Resources and Services (OARS) scale six months after the trauma.Results: All 926 eligible patients were included in the analyses: 344 MT-HI patients and 582 without head injury. After six months, the functional decline was similar in both groups, 10.8% and 11.9% respectively (RR=0.79 [95% CI: 0.55-1.14]). The proportion of participants with mild cognitive disabilities was also similar, 21.7% and 22.8% respectively (RR=0.91 [95% CI: 0.71-1.18]). Furthermore, for the group of patients with a MT-HI, the functional outcome was not statistically different with or without the presence of a co-injury (RR= 1.35 [95% CI: 0.71-2.59]), or with or without the presence of a mTBI as defined by the WHO criteria (RR= 0.90 [95% CI: 0.59-1.13]).Conclusion: This study did not demonstrate that the occurrence of a MT-HI is associated with a worse functional or cognitive prognosis than other minor injuries without a head injury in an elderly population six months after injury.