Abstract
SummaryBackgroundWe performed a retrospective case-control study to assess the values of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in a large number of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with different types of trauma.MethodsThe study population consisted of all patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the local ED with all types of traumas over a 1-year period. Results of cTnI were compared with those of 125 consecutive blood donors and 25 non-cardiac chest pain ED patients.ResultsThe final study population consisted of 380 trauma patients, 10 with isolated abdominal trauma, 99 with isolated trauma of the limbs, 49 with isolated chest trauma, 145 with isolated head trauma and 77 with polytrauma. The concentration of cTnI did not differ among the three study populations, but the frequency of measurable values was substantially higher in patients with trauma (63%) than in blood donors and non-cardiac chest pain ED patients (both 20%). The frequency of cTnI values above the 99th percentile of the reference range was significantly higher in trauma patients (20%) than in blood donors (0%) and noncardiac chest pain ED patients (8%). Increased cTnI values were more frequent after head trauma (21%), chest trauma (27%) and polytrauma (29%) compared to patients with abdominal (0%) or limbs trauma (8%).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the measurement of cardiac troponin may be advisable to identify potential cardiac involvement in trauma patients, especially in those with polytrauma and head or chest trauma.
Highlights
Trauma injuries fulfill the typical disease classification criteria for a global pandemic, since their frequency is high and they are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality over time and across all continents
The final study population consisted of 380 trauma patients, 10 with isolated abdominal trauma, 99 with isolated trauma of the limbs, 49 with isolated chest trauma, 145 with isolated head trauma and 77 with polytrauma
No significant difference was observed in the age distribution of trauma patients compared to the populations of blood donors and emergency department (ED) patients without trauma
Summary
Trauma injuries fulfill the typical disease classification criteria for a global pandemic, since their frequency is high and they are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality over time and across all continents. Deaths from injury have been estimated at 5.1 million per year in the 1990 worldwide, and this epidemiological burden is expected to increase further to 8.4 million in the five years, becoming the second cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost [1]. The most recent statistics of the US National Trauma Institute attests that trauma accounts for as many as 41 million emergency department (ED) visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions across the US each year [2]. Trauma injuries account for up to 30% of all life years lost and pose a dramatic economic burden to the health care system, estimated at approximately $585 billions per year (including costs related to health care expenditure and lost productivity). Traumas to central nervous system (CNS; 33%), exsanguination (33%), both CNS trauma and exsanguination (17%), and airway compromise (8%) were the more frequent reasons of death
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
