Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics (Sep 2024)

The Impact of Comorbidity–Polypharmacy Score on Geriatric Trauma Outcomes

  • D. G. S. R. Krishna Moorthy,
  • S. Manju Priya

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_6_24
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 3
pp. 117 – 120

Abstract

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Background: Trauma is one of the leading causes of death in older patients, who experience higher mortality rates even with less severe injuries compared to younger individuals. Many factors affect the outcomes in elderly trauma patients, with polypharmacy being one of the most significant. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is an anatomical measure used to estimate the outcomes of trauma patients. This study compares the Comorbidity Polypharmacy Score (CPS) with the ISS to evaluate patient outcomes. Aims and Objectives: To assess the relationship between the Comorbidity–Polypharmacy Score (CPS) and injury severity score (ISS) on outcomes in geriatric trauma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included 200 individuals aged over 60 years with clinical evidence of trauma who presented to the emergency department and were subsequently hospitalized. ISS and CPS scores were calculated in the Emergency Department and followed up until discharge. Patients were subdivided into two groups: Group A with a CPS of 0 to 7 and Group B with a CPS of more than 7. Results: The mean age of the 200 patients was 66.41 ± 6.89 years, with 148 men and 52 women. In the study, 42 people had a CPS of more than 7, while 158 had a CPS of 0 to 7. Based on the severity of injuries, 95 people were classified as mild ISS, 51 as moderate, 35 as severe, and 19 as very severe. Compared to Group A, Group B patients had prolonged hospital stays despite having lower ISS scores in the mild to moderate ISS groups. However, this association was not observed in patients with severe to very severe ISS in terms of ICU stay or mortality rates. Conclusion: In our population, patients with higher Comorbidity Polypharmacy Scores had prolonged hospital stays in the mild to moderate Injury Severity Score group. However, in patients with severe to very severe Injury Severity Scores, higher CPS did not affect the length of stay or mortality.

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