Increased hospital morbidity among trauma patients with diabetes mellitus compared with age- and injury severity score-matched control subjects.
Journal
  Archives of surgery.
Citation
  Arch Surg. 142(7):613-8
Publication date
  2007 Jul
Authors
  Ahmad R
Cherry RA
Lendel I
Mauger DT
Service SL
Texter LJ
Gabbay RA
Investigators
  Robert A. Cherry
Robert A. Gabbay
David T. Mauger
MeSH headings
  Diabetes Complications
Wounds and Injuries
MeSH qualifiers
  complications
Abstract
  HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have worse outcomes following trauma compared with patients without a history of DM. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation database that compiles data from 27 accredited trauma centers in Pennsylvania. SETTING: We used the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation database of 295 561 patients to compare outcomes in patients with DM vs those in patients who did not have DM. PATIENTS: A total of 12 489 patients with DM from January 1984 to December 2002 were matched by sex, age, and Injury Severity Score with 12 489 patients who did not have DM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the length of hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, ventilatory assistance days, complications, and mortality rates. RESULTS: Patients with DM spent more days in the intensive care unit and receiving ventilator support. They were more likely to have a complication (23.0% in the DM group vs 14.0% in the non-DM group [odds ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-1.92]). No difference in mortality rates or length of hospital stay was noted. CONCLUSION: Patients with DM exposed to trauma have greater hospital morbidity resulting from longer intensive care unit stay, increased ventilator support, and more complications.