Evaluation and influential factors of early life quality of patients with severe blunt chest trauma

Abstract

Objective To assay the early quality of life and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and relating influential factors in patients with severe blunt chest trauma (sBCT).Methods Demographic and clinical data of sBCT patients treated between January 2011 and December 2011 were collected.Early quality of life and PTSD symptom level at posttraumatic months 1,3,and 6 were analyzed by using short form 36 health survey (SF-36) and impact of event scale-revised (IES-R) respectively.Furthermore,logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors associated with quality of life of the patients.Results A total of 107 patients were included in the study.Ultimately,83 patients were available to the 6-month follow-up.A low score for SF-36 remained at posttraumatic 6 months and one-third of the 83 patients sustained mild or severe PTSD symptoms.Major influential factors to posttraumatic quality of life included age,ISS ≥ 20,combined craniocerebral injury,combined spinal and pelvic injuries,posttraumatic complications,and PTSD.Conclusions Early quality of life in sBCT patients is poor.Therefore,the early intervention with identification of specific risk factors is contributive to better quality of life. Key words: Thoracic injuries ; Stress disorders, traumatic ; Anastomosis, surgical