Beta-blockers in isolated blunt head injury.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of beta-blockers on patients sustaining acute traumatic brain injury. Our hypothesis was that beta-blocker exposure is associated with improved survival.

Study Design: The trauma registry and the surgical ICU databases of an academic Level I trauma center were used to identify all patients sustaining blunt head injury requiring ICU admission from July 1998 to December 2005. Patients sustaining major associated injuries (Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 4 in any body region other than the head) were excluded. Patient demographics, injury profile, Injury Severity Score, and beta-blocker exposure were abstracted. The primary outcomes measure evaluated was in-hospital mortality.

Results: During the 90-month study period, 1,156 patients with isolated head injury were admitted to the ICU. Of these, 203 (18%) received beta-blockers and 953 (82%) did not. Patients receiving beta-blockers were older (50 +/- 21 years versus 38 +/- 20 years, p < 0.001), had more frequent severe (Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 4) head injury (54% versus 43%, p < 0.01), Glasgow Coma Scale < or = 8 less often (37% versus 47%, p = 0.01), more skull fractures (20% versus 12%, p < 0.01), and underwent craniectomy more frequently (23% versus 4%, p < 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression identified beta-blocker use as an independent protective factor for mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.91; p = 0.01). On subgroup analysis, elderly patients (55 years or older) with severe head injury (Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 4) had a mortality of 28% on beta-blockers as compared with 60% when they did not receive them (odds ratio: 0.3; 96% CI, 0.1 to 0.6; p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Beta-blockade in patients with traumatic brain injury was independently associated with improved survival. Older patients with severe head injuries demonstrated the largest reduction in mortality with beta-blockade.