Citation

Benham DA, Rooney AS, Calvo RY, Carr MJ, Diaz JA, Sise CB, Bansal V, Sise MJ, Martin MJ. Am. J. Surg. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.02.030

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (METH) is associated with an elevated risk of injury and the outcomes in the elderly remain unclear. We analyzed METH's impact in elderly trauma patients.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis (2009-2018) of trauma patients at a Level I trauma center. Elderly patients were defined as age ≥55. Substance use was identified by blood alcohol test and urine drug screen. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess patient and injury characteristics with mortality.

RESULTS: Of 15,770 patient encounters with substance use testing, 5278 (34%) were elderly. Elderly METH use quadrupled over time (2%-8%; p < 0.01). Elderly METH + patients were more likely to require surgical intervention (35% vs. 17%), mechanical ventilation (15% vs. 7%), and a longer hospitalization (6.5 vs. 3.6 days) compared with elderly substance negative. Multivariate analysis showed increasing age, ventilator use, and injury severity were associated with mortality (ps < 0.01); METH was not related to mortality.

CONCLUSION: Substance use in elderly trauma patients increased significantly. METH use in elderly trauma patients is a risk factor for significantly greater resource utilization.

Language: en

Keywords

Intoxication; Substance use; Methamphetamine; Blood alcohol level; Geriatric trauma