NYMC Faculty Publications
Body Mass Index and Mortality in Blunt Trauma: The Right BMI can be Protective
DOI
10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.10.017
Journal Title
American Journal of Surgery
First Page
1475
Last Page
1479
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2020
Department
Surgery
Keywords
Adolescent, Adult, Body Mass Index, Female, Humans, Injury Severity Score, Length of Stay, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Morbid, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Thinness, Wounds, Nonpenetrating
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Background: There are limited studies examining the role of BMI on mortality in the trauma population. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the "obesity paradox" exists in non-elderly patients with blunt trauma.
Methods: A retrospective study was performed on the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database for 2016. All non-elderly patients aged 18-64, with blunt traumatic injuries were identified. A generalized additive model (GAM) was built to assess the association of mortality and BMI adjusted for age, gender, race, and injury severity score (ISS).
Results: 28,475 patients (mean age = 42.5, SD = 14.3) were identified. 20,328 (71.4%) were male. Age (p < 0.0001), gender (p < 0.0001), and ISS (p < 0.0001) had significant associations with mortality. After GAM, BMI showed a significant U-shaped association with mortality (EDF = 3.2, p = 0.003). A BMI range of 31.5 ± 0.9 kg/m2 was associated with the lowest mortality.
Conclusion: High BMI can be a protective factor in mortality within non-elderly patients with blunt trauma. However, underweight or morbid obesity suggest a higher risk of mortality.
Recommended Citation
Choi, J., Smiley, A., Latifi, R., Gogna, S., Prabhakaran, K., Con, J., Anderson, P., Policastro, A., Beydoun, M., & Rhee, P. (2020). Body Mass Index and Mortality in Blunt Trauma: The Right BMI can be Protective. American Journal of Surgery, 220 (6), 1475-1479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.10.017
