Do not resuscitate status, not age, affects outcomes after injury: an evaluation of 15,227 consecutive trauma patients.

Background: Despite a well-described association of age and injury with mortality and decreased functional status, inpatient mortality studies have traditionally not included analysis of do not resuscitate (DNR) status. We hypothesized that the increased likelihood of DNR status in older patients alters age-adjusted mortality rates in trauma.

Methods: The trauma registry was queried for adult patients admitted to our Level I trauma center (January 2005-December 2008) and divided into eight age groups by decade.

Unique pattern of complications in elderly trauma patients at a Level I trauma center.

Background: Trauma centers are caring for increased proportions of elderly patients. Although age and Injury Severity Score are independently associated with mortality, trauma centers were originally designed to care for seriously injured patients without age-specific guidelines. We hypothesized that elderly patients would have different complication patterns than their younger counterparts.