High cost of trauma care in the elderly

South Med J. 1989 Jul;82(7):857-9. doi: 10.1097/00007611-198907000-00016.

Abstract

Trauma in the elderly is a significant public health problem in terms of morbidity, mortality, and expenditure of health care resources. We compared injury severity score, length of stay, hospital charges, and mortality rate in a group of 60 elderly patients and a group of 60 younger patients admitted to our hospital. The older group had an average hospital stay that was more than four days longer, at an average hospital charge of $15,769.55, and their mortality rate was 15% versus 0% among the younger group. Despite early and aggressive care, the elderly continue to pose an important problem for trauma centers in terms of both length of stay and cost.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / economics*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Wounds and Injuries / complications
  • Wounds and Injuries / economics*
  • Wounds and Injuries / mortality