Sexual dimorphism in trauma? A retrospective evaluation of outcome.

Abstract

Multiple studies have demonstrated a heightened immune response in female animals subjected to trauma-hemorrhage models and have implied a subsequent survival advantage. A retrospective review of outcome in 15,170 trauma admissions over a 5-year-period (1993-1997) at a level 1-trauma center was performed. A comparison of outcome by gender, age, injury severity score (ISS), mechanism of injury, location of injury (AIS), and length of hospitalization (intensive care unit and total hospitalization) was performed. There were 12,456 male and 2714 female patients included in the study. Overall survival rates (male = 90.2%, female = 90.8%) and survival of serious (ISS > or = 15) trauma (male = 63.5%, female = 60.5%) were not statistically different. Logistic regression analysis identified age, mechanism and ISS as factors associated with survival. Retrospective evaluation of our trauma population failed to show a difference in outcome between male and female trauma patients. Age, mechanism and severity of injury-but not gender-were identified as factors influencing survival.