title: The vulnerable elders survey-13 predicts hospital complications and mortality in older adults with traumatic injury: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES)-13, a survey based on functional status that has been validated in uninjured older populations, will predict complications and mortality in injured older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 1 trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three older adults (≥65) with a traumatic injury who survived and required inpatient care for at least 24 hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  preinjury VES-13 score (0-10 points, higher=greater risk) obtained by interviewing participants or proxies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  composite outcome of one or more medical complications (e.g., aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure) or death, discharge destination (home, nursing home, death), length of stay, hospital charges. Covariates: Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 63 participants, 30 (48%) were discharged to home and 28 (44%) to a nursing facility, 21 (33%) developed one or more complications, and four (6%) died. In a model that also controlled for ISS and comorbidity, each additional VES-13 point was associated with greater risk of complication or death (odds ratio=1.53 per point, 95% confidence interval=1.12-2.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VES-13, in combination with injury severity, may be useful early in the hospital course to predict complications and death in older adults with traumatic injury, potentially identifying candidates who may benefit from additional inpatient geriatric services.
authors: Division of Geriatrics, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. lmin@med.umich.edu
authors: Lillian
authors: L
authors: Min
authors: Nitin
authors: N
authors: Ubhayakar
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Saliba
authors: Lorraine
authors: L
authors: Kelley-Quon
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Morley
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Hiatt
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Cryer
authors: Areti
authors: A
authors: Tillou
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*