Correlation of the RTS (Revised Trauma Score) and RAPS (Rapid Acute Physiology Score) in rotor-wing prehospital care.
BACKGROUND
The Rapid Acute Physiology Score (RAPS) has been applied to patients transported by air, but not correlated with commonly used prehospital indices. The authors desired to determine the correlation between RAPS and Revised Trauma Score (RTS). Correlations between RAPS and RTS in patients with non-trauma ills were also investigated.


METHODS
Eight-hundred forty-four consecutive patients transported by helicopter were retrospectively evaluated. Demographics, origin of transport, nature of illness, RTS and RAPS were recorded. RTS vs. RAPS scores were graphed using sunflower technique and correlation was calculated using Spearman Rank-Order Correlation Coefficients (SCC). Alpha was set at < or = .05.


RESULTS
Sunflower plots revealed wide ranges of RAPS at like RTS values in less severely ill or injured patients. SCC analysis revealed statistically significant (p < .05) correlations for all patients and for subgroups of prehospital trauma, prehospital medical, interfacility trauma and interfacility medical patients. Degrees of correlation varied between groups, with agreement being strongest in prehospital trauma and weakest in interfacility trauma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that RTS and RAPS scores exhibit significant correlation in a variety of patient populations. The wide range of RAPS seen at like RTS values suggests that RAPS may be a more sensitive indicator of physiologic status in patients transported by air.
Bertollo
S
S
University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Rodenberg
H
H
D017732:Air Ambulances; D003625:Data Collection; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D012720:Severity of Illness Index