Disparities in discharge patterns of admitted older patients with ocular trauma.

PURPOSE:In older patients, poor vision from ocular trauma increases the likelihood of further injuries and repeat hospitalizations, underscoring the need for appropriate post-hospitalization care. We sought to evaluate disposition patterns of older patients admitted with ocular trauma. METHODS/MATERIALS:This retrospective observational study analyzed the National Trauma Data Bank (2008-2014) and de-identified data of patients, ≥65 years old, admitted with ocular trauma were identified using ICD-9CM and E-codes. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, type of ocular injury, comorbidities, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, length of hospital stay, location and US region, insurance, and discharge disposition were extracted. Analysis was performed with student's t-test, Chi-squared test, and odds ratios (OR) using SPSS software. Statistical significance was set at P <.05. RESULTS:58,074 (18.3%) of 316,485 patients admitted with ocular trauma were >65yrs. 26,346 (45.4%) were discharged home and 23,314 (40.1%) to an advanced care facility (ACF). Nursing home residents were most likely to return to ACF (OR, 4.76; 95%CI, 4.40-5.14; P < .001). Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow coma score [GCS]<8) (OR, 4.57; 95%CI, 4.09-5.11; P < .001), very severe injury severity score (ISS ≥24) (OR, 3.73; 95%CI, 3.46-4.01; P < .001), females (OR, 1.27; 95%CI, 1.23-1.32; P < .001), white patients (OR, 1.29; 95%CI, 1.24-1.36; P < .001) and Medicare beneficiaries (OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 1.09-1.19; P < .001) were most likely to be discharged to an ACF. Demography-related discharge propensities prevailed nationwide and within insurance categories. Multivariate regression analysis revealed factors determining ACF placement were, in order: length of hospital stay, nursing home residency, GCS<8, ISS>24, female gender, white race, and Medicare insurance. CONCLUSIONS:Hispanic, black, male, and self-paying patients were disproportionately discharged home. Ocular injuries had low impact on ACF placement. Understanding these disparities will assist in developing guidelines for appropriate and equitable post-trauma rehabilitation in this vulnerable population.