Quality of life after multiple trauma: results from a patient cohort treated in a certified trauma network

Abstract

PurposeBesides mortality, the patient-reported outcome (PRO) in survivors of multiple trauma is of increasing interest. So far, no data on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after multiple trauma from an entire trauma network are available. Within this study, the course of the PRO over time and differences between level I and level II trauma centers within an entire trauma network was evaluated.MethodsMultiple injured patients, treated in a rural trauma network over 2\xa0years, were prospectively included in this study. After 6, 12 and 24\xa0months the results of the European Quality of Life (EuroQoL) EQ-5D outcome instrument were evaluated. To adjust for differences in trauma severity between level I and level II centers, the Revised Injury Severity Classification II (RISC II) and the Functional Capacity Index (FCI) were used to adjust the life-quality results of patients.Results501 patients were included, 118 patients with an ISS\u2009<\u200916 points, 383 patients reached 16 points or more. Despite a steady increase of EQ-5D index over time (6\xa0months: 0.71\u2009±\u20090.31; 12\xa0months: 0.74\u2009±\u20090.28; 24\xa0months: 0.76\u2009±\u20090.27; p\u2009<\u20090.001), the values of a reference population could not be reached even 2 years after trauma (EQ-5D reference population: 0.9). After adjustment for trauma severity, no significant differences in PROMs between level I and level II centers could be detected (p\u2009=\u20090.188).ConclusionThe consistently low EQ-5D index relative the reference population and the lack of a difference between level I and II centers suggest that improved strategies for polytrauma aftercare are called for.