Body Mass Index Does Not Predict Injury Pattern or Outcome After Motorcycle Crash

Anthony Allsbrook; Jennifer Q To; Odessa R Pulido; Madison E Morgan; Lindsey L Perea; Hannah Shin; Alison Muller; Adrian Ong; Christopher A Butts; Maxwell A Braverman

doi:10.1016/j.jss.2023.12.010

Body Mass Index Does Not Predict Injury Pattern or Outcome After Motorcycle Crash

J Surg Res. 2024 Apr:296:88-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.12.010. Epub 2024 Jan 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Acute Care Surgical Services, Department of Surgery, St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
² Department of Surgery, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
³ Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
⁴ Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
⁵ Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Acute Care Surgery & Surgical Critical Care, Reading Hospital- Tower Health, West Reading, Pennsylvania.
⁶ Division of Acute Care Surgical Services, Department of Surgery, St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: Maxwell.Braverman@sluhn.org.

PMID: 38241772
DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.12.010

Abstract

Introduction: The obesity epidemic plagues the United States, affecting approximately 42% of the population. The relationship of obesity with injury severity and outcomes has been poorly studied among motorcycle collisions (MCC). This study aimed to compare injury severity, mortality, injury regions, and hospital and intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) between obese and normal-weight MCC patients.

Methods: Trauma registries from three Pennsylvania Level 1 trauma centers were queried for adult MCC patients (January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020). Obesity was defined as adult patients with body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m² and normal weight was defined as body mass index < 30 kg/m² but > 18.5 kg/m². Demographics and injury characteristics including injury severity score (ISS), abbreviated injury score, mortality, transfusions and LOS were compared. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: One thousand one hundred sixty-four patients met the inclusion criteria: 40% obese (n = 463) and 60% nonobese (n = 701). Comparison of ISS demonstrated no statistically significant difference between obese and normal-weight patients with median ISS (interquartile range) 9 (5-14) versus 9 (5-14), respectively (P = 0.29). Obese patients were older with median age 45 (32-55) y versus 38 (26-54) y, respectively (P < 0.01). Comorbidities were equally distributed among both groups except for the incidence of hypertension (30 versus 13.8%, P < 0.01) and diabetes (11 versus 4.4%, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in Trauma Injury Severity Score or abbreviated injury score. Hospital LOS, intensive care unit LOS, and 30-day mortality among both groups were similar.

Conclusions: Obese patients experiencing MCC had no differences in distribution of injury, mortality, or injury severity, mortality, injury regions, and hospital compared to normal-weight adults. Our study differs from current data that obese motorcycle drivers may have different injury characteristics and increased LOS.

Keywords: Body mass index; Motorcycle; Motorcycle injuries; Obesity; Trauma.

MeSH terms

Accidents, Traffic
Adult
Body Mass Index
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Length of Stay
Middle Aged
Motorcycles*
Obesity / complications
Obesity / epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
United States
Wounds and Injuries* / complications
Wounds and Injuries* / diagnosis
Wounds and Injuries* / epidemiology