Quality of life after mild to moderate trauma

• Published in: Injury 2015-05, Vol.46 (5), p.902-908
• Main Authors: Innocenti, Francesca, Del Taglia, Beatrice, Coppa, Alessandro, Trausi, Federica, Conti, Alberto, Zanobetti, Maurizio, Pini, Riccardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Craniocerebral Trauma - epidemiology; Craniocerebral Trauma - physiopathology; Craniocerebral Trauma - psychology; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health-related quality of life; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Italy - epidemiology; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Patient Discharge; Prognosis; Quality of Life - psychology; Recovery of Function; Social Support; SOFA score; Thoracic Injuries - epidemiology; Thoracic Injuries - physiopathology; Thoracic Injuries - psychology; Trauma; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0020-1383; 1879-0267
• DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2014.11.033

Abstract Introduction To evaluate potential reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after a mild to moderate trauma. Materials and methods Follow-up study of a cohort of 153 trauma patients admitted to the High Dependency Unit of the Emergency Department of the University-Hospital of Florence from July 2008 to February 2012. After 6 months from the event, a telephone interview using the Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Health Composite Score (SF12) was conducted. Patients reported their HRQOL both at present and before trauma. Scores ≥50 represent no disability; 40–49, mild disability; 30–39, moderate disability; and below 30, severe disability. Results Before the event 143 (93%) subjects reported a normal PCS and MCS. After the events, a significantly lower proportion of patients maintained a normal PCS and MCS values (52 and 68%, all p < 0.01). One, two, three and four PCS items worsened in 14%, 15%, 18% and 38% of the study population, while one, two, three or four MCS dimensions worsened in 12%, 19%, 19% and 24%. We identified 109 subjects (N+), which showed normal PCS and MCS values before trauma, in the absence of any pre-existing medical condition. After the event, we observed a significant PCS (before: 54, standard deviation, SD 6; after 43, SD 11, p < 0.0001) and MCS (before: 55, SD 7; after 47, SD 11, p < 0.0001) worsening among N+ subjects. Distribution across the four disability categories was 52, 24, 17 and 6% for MCS score and 38, 25, 27 and 11% for PCS score: overall 8 (7%) patients reported a moderate disability and 5 (5%) reported a severe disability in both dimensions. Compared with subjects with preserved values, patients with an abnormal (