title: Risk factors for the mortality of trauma victims in the intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the risk factors associated with mortality of trauma victims during hospitalisation in the intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brazilian ICU specialising in the care of trauma victims.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. The variables used to compare the groups included demographic and clinical characteristics and illness/injury severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE II], Simplified Acute Physiology Score [SAPS II], Logistic Organ Dysfunction System [LODS], Injury Severity Score [ISS] and New Injury Severity Score [NISS]). The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 200 patients (164 males) with a mean age of 40.7 years. The predominant causes of injury were traffic accidents (57.5%) followed by falls (31.0%). The ICU mortality was 19.0%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that one point on the NISS and SAPS II scores increased the risk of death by 6% and 7%, respectively. In contrast, the risk of dying decreased 4% for each day of ICU hospitalisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professionals must use the SAPS II and NISS for the early identification of trauma victims at high risk for death especially during the first days of ICU hospitalisation.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Debora Souza
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sardinha
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina Marcia Cardoso
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: lilianogueira@usp.br.
authors.forename: Lilia de Souza
authors.initials: Lde S
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Petri
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Damiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing
keywords: Intensive care unit; Mortality; Severity of illness index; Trauma severity indices; Wounds and injuries