title: Examining the relationship between preinjury health and injury-related factors to discharge location and risk for injury-associated complications in patients after blunt thoracic trauma: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether preinjury health and injury-related factors were associated with posthospitalization discharge location and injury-associated complications for patients with blunt thoracic trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis using registry data from a level 1 trauma center was conducted. A random sample of 200 patients admitted between 2009 and 2012 was included. Relationships between variables were assessed through cross-tabulation with the chi-square analysis; a P value <.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol/drug use was related to hospital discharge location. Most patients with alcohol involved injuries discharged to locations other than home or long-term care facilities. Of the 59 patients who required intensive care, their length of stay was less than 3 days, and 24 required mechanical ventilation for short periods. Most blunt thoracic trauma patients were hospitalized less than 7 days. A relationship was identified between discharge location and the presence of any of the National Trauma Databank comorbid conditions and the comorbid condition of bleeding. A relationship between rib fractures and injury-associated complications was not found. The complication of pneumonia was related to length of stay and primary payment method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comorbid medical conditions and injury-related factors were associated with injury-related complications and discharge location for select variables. Further exploration with is needed to elucidate the associations more fully.
authors.affiliation: Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky (Ms Senn-Reeves) and Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (Dr Jenkins).
authors.forename: Julia N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Senn-Reeves
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000639:trends*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery