title: Comparative analysis of trauma characteristics between elderly and superelderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the characteristics of trauma in the elderly under and over 80-years-old.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of protocols of blunt trauma victims aged over 70 years. Individuals aged between 70 and 79 years were included in group I, those aged 80 years or greater in group II. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t, chi-square and Fisher tests, considering p <0.05 as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 281 patients (group I-149, group II-132). The age ranged between 70 and 99 years (79.1 + 6.7 years), with 52.3% male. Group II had lower average abdomen AIS (0.10 + 0.59 vs. 0.00 + 0.00, p = 0.029), lower incidence of male victims (59.1% vs. 44 , 3%, p = 0.013), higher incidence of falling from standing height (44.3% vs. 65.2%, p = 0.028) and lower frequency of upper limb fractures (9.4% vs. 2.3 %, p = 0.010) than Group I. There was no significant difference in comparison of other variables between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trauma in the elderly is a serious public health problem, with a tendency to progressive worsening with population aging. Data from this study help us with a clearer picture of trauma in the over-80 elders, a subgroup that deserves special attention.
authors.forename: José Gustavo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Parreira
authors.forename: Samires
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrath
authors.forename: Silvia Cristine
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Soldá
authors.forename: Jacqueline Arantes Giannini
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Perlingeiro
authors.forename: José Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Assef
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology*