N. Kamagate1, T. Wood1, U. Pandya1, M. S. O’Mara1 1Grant Medical Center/Ohio University,Trauma And Acute Care Surgery/Ohio University Heritage College Of Osteopathic Medicine,Columbus, OHIO, USA
Introduction: Race has been associated with outcomes in trauma patients. However, growing populations of 1st and 2nd generation African immigrants has brought up questions as to whether it is culture or race that influences these outcomes. We hypothesize that the cultural background of patients instead of racial type, impacts cause, course and outcomes in trauma patients.
Methods: 25470 patients admitted to a level one trauma center over an 8-year period were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were separated into 3 groups: 1) Caucasian, 2) non-immigrant African Americans, and 3) African first or second generation immigrants. Demographic, injury mechanism and severity, and outcome variables were evaluated.
Results: Patient demographics and injury severity were not different. The mechanism of injury in the immigrant population was different (see table), with immigrant patients having a majority of motor vehicle collisions. MVCs were the most frequent in the nonimmigrant and Caucasian groups as well, but those two groups had much higher incidence of penetrating injury (non-immigrant African Americans) and falls (Caucasians). There was also a decreased mortality in the immigrant group (2.8%), which was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than both the non-immigrant (4.4%) and Caucasian groups (3.1%).
Conclusion: There is more to trauma outcomes than race. Cultural background is a significant predictor of injury cause and of survival in trauma patients.
