The Importance of Sex Differences on Outcome after Major Trauma: Clinical Outcome in Women Versus Men

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate epidemiological and clinically relevant sex-related differences in polytraumatized patients at a Level 1 Trauma Center. Methods: 646 adult patients (210 females and 436 males) who were classified as polytraumatized (at the point of admission) and treated at our Level I Trauma Center were reviewed and included in this study. Demographic data as well as mechanism of injury, injury severity, injury pattern, frequency of preclinical intubation, hemodynamic variables on admission, time of mechanical ventilation and of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment, as well as the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi organ failure (MOF), and mortality were extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of 210 female and 436 male patients formed the basis of this report. Females showed a higher mean age (44.6 vs. 38.3 years; p < 0.0001) than their male counterparts. Women were more likely to be injured as passengers or by suicidal falls whereas men were more likely to suffer trauma as motorcyclists. Following ICU treatment, female patients resided significantly longer at the casualty ward than men (27.1 days vs. 20.4 days, p = 0.013) although there was no significant difference regarding injury severity, hemodynamic variables on admission, and incidence of MOF, ARDS, and mortality. Conclusion: The positive correlation of higher age and longer in-hospital stay in female trauma victims seems to show women at risk for a prolonged in-hospital rehabilitation time. A better understanding of the impact of major trauma in women (but also men) will be an important component of efforts to improve trauma care and long-term outcome.