title: The effect of obesity on outcomes among injured patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The potential consequences of obesity in trauma patients are significant, yet incompletely defined by previous studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of obesity on morbidity and mortality among injured patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of all trauma patients evaluated at an American College of Surgeons verified Level I trauma center over a 1-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Morbidity and mortality were assessed after patients were stratified according to body mass index (BMI=kilograms/meters) and injury severity score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality of patients with a BMI > or =35 (obese patients) was 10.7% versus 4.1% for patients with a BMI<35 (lean patients, p = 0.003). Nearly 27% of obese patients versus 17.6% of lean patients experienced one or more complications while in the hospital (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese patients are significantly more likely than lean patients to experience complications and death after a traumatic event. This effect is enhanced with higher levels of injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McDaniel
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.forename: R Stephen
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology