Is total out-of-hospital time a significant predictor of trauma patient mortality?

Objective: To determine if there is an association between total out-of-hospital time and trauma patient mortality.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of a convenience sample of consecutive medical records for all admitted patients transported by helicopter or ambulance from the scene of injury to the regional trauma center. Descriptive and univariate analyses were conducted to determine which variables were associated with patient mortality and total out-of-hospital time. Multiple predictors logistic regression was used to determine if total out-of-hospital time was associated with trauma patient outcome, while controlling for the variables associated with trauma patient mortality.

Results: Of the 2,925 patients who were transported from the scene, 1,877 met the inclusion criteria. Six percent (116) did not survive. The multiple predictors model included CUPS (critical, unstable, potentially unstable, stable) status, patient age, Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, and total out-of-hospital time as predictors of mortality. Total out-of-hospital time (odds ratio 0.987; p = 0.092) was the only variable not found to be a significant predictor of mortality.

Conclusions: Provider-assigned CUPS status, patient age, Injury Severity Score, and Revised Trauma Score all were significant predictors of trauma patient mortality. Total out-of-hospital time was not associated with mortality.