LAUSR

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine if baseline frailty was an independent predictor of extended hospital length of stay (LOS), nonroutine discharge, and in-hospital mortality after evacuation of an acute traumatic subdural hematomas (SDH). METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed. All adult patients who underwent surgery for an acute traumatic SDH were identified using the National Trauma Database (NTDB) from the year 2017. Patients were categorized into three cohorts based on the criteria of the 5-item modified frailty index (mFI-5): mFI=0, mFI=1, or mFI=2+. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of extended LOS, nonroutine discharge, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS Of the 2,620 patients identified, 41.7% were classified as mFI=0, 32.7% as mFI=1, and 25.6% as mFI=2+. Rates of extended LOS and in-hospital mortality did differ significantly between the cohorts, with the mFI=0 cohort most often experiencing a prolonged LOS (mFI=0: 29.41% vs. mFI=1: 19.45% vs. mFI=2+: 19.73%, p<0.001) and in-hospital mortality (mFI=0: 24.66% vs. mFI=1: 18.11% vs. mFI=2+: 21.58%, p=0.002). On multivariate regression analysis, when compared to mFI=0, mFI=2+ [OR: 1.4, p=0.03] predicted extended LOS and non-routine discharge [OR: 1.61, p=0.001]. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that baseline frailty may be an independent predictor of extended LOS and nonroutine discharge, but not in-hospital mortality, in patients undergoing evacuation for an acute traumatic SDH. Further investigations are warranted as they may guide treatment plans and reduce healthcare expenditures for frail patients with SDH.