Background: We hypothesized that the outcomes of trauma patients with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 compared to patients with BMI less than 30 would not differ at a level 1 trauma center that is also a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence in the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).
Study design: Patients equal to and greater than 18 years old treated between 1/1/2018 and 12/31/2020 were included. Demographics, BMI, comorbidities, and outcomes (hospital-LOS, ICU-LOS, blood products used, and mortality) were compared between 2 groups: obese (BMI ≥30) vs non-obese (BMI <30).
Results: Of the 4192 patients identified, 3821 met the inclusion criteria; 3019 patients had a BMI <30, and 802 had a BMI ≥30. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to gender (females: 57% vs 47%, P < .0001) and age (median: 80 [IQR: 63-88] vs 69 [IQR: 55-81], P < .0001). When adjusted for age, sex, DM, dementia, ISS, and ICU admission, there was no statistically significant difference in hospital-LOS (4.30 [95% CI: 4.10, 4.52] vs 4.48 [95% CI: 4.18, 4.79]) or mortality. No statistical differences were seen between the 2 groups in blood product use.
Conclusions: Obesity did not correlate with poorer outcomes at an ACS-verified level 1 Trauma Center and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. Further studies are needed to determine whether outcomes vary at hospitals without both designations.
Keywords: bariatric surgery center of excellence; injury; obesity; trauma center; trauma surgery.