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Health status after penetrating major trauma in Victoria, Australia: a registry-based cohort study

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Abstract

Purpose

As few studies have examined long-term health after penetrating injury, this population-based registry study sought to assess health outcomes up to 24 months post-injury.

Methods

Major trauma patients with penetrating trauma (2009–2017) were included from the Victorian State Trauma Registry (N = 1,067; 102 died, 208 were lost to follow-up). The EQ-5D-3L was used to measure health status at 6, 12 and 24-months. Mixed linear and logistic regressions were used to examine predictors of summary scores, and problems versus no problems on each health dimension.

Results

Average health status summary scores were 0.70 (sd = 0.26) at 6 and 12 months, and 0.72 (sd = 0.26) at 24 months post-injury. Prevalence of problems was consistent over time: mobility (24–26%), self-care (17–20%), usual activities (47–50%), pain/discomfort (44–49%), and anxiety/depression (54–56%). Lower health status and reporting problems was associated with middle-older age, female sex, unemployment; pre-injury disability, comorbid conditions; and assault and firearm injury versus cutting/piercing.

Conclusion

Problems with usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety or depression are common after penetrating major trauma. Risk factor screening in hospital could be used to identify people at risk of poor health outcomes, and to link people at risk with services in hospital or early post-discharge to improve their longer-term health outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by staff within Monash University Helix and the Monash eResearch Centre. The Secure eResearch Platform is underpinned by world-leading infrastructure to ensure ongoing security and privacy of any data is maintained. This project was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council (MJG: DE170100726; BB: DE180100825; BJG: FT170100048). The Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR) is funded by the Department of Health, State Government of Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Melita J. Giummarra, Joanna F. Dipnall, Ben Beck & Belinda J. Gabbe

  2. Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre, Caulfield Hospital, Caulfield, VIC, Australia

    Melita J. Giummarra

  3. Institute for Social Neuroscience, Ivanhoe, VIC, Australia

    Georgia Gibson

  4. Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine , Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Joanna F. Dipnall

  5. Health Data Research UK, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea University, Swansea, UK, SA2 8PP, Wales

    Belinda J. Gabbe

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  1. Melita J. Giummarra
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  4. Ben Beck
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data preparation and analysis were performed by MJG, JD and GG. The first draft of the manuscript was written by MJG and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Melita J. Giummarra.

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Giummarra, M., Dipnall, J.F., Gibson, G. et al. Health status after penetrating major trauma in Victoria, Australia: a registry-based cohort study. Qual Life Res 30, 3511–3521 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-02876-4

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