This study investigated the efficacy and reliability of the BIG score, calculated based on the base deficit (BD), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and Glasgow coma scale (GCS), in comparison with the GCS, Revised trauma score (RTS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) for predicting in-hospital mortality in adults with multiple-trauma presenting to the emergency department (ED).
This retrospective, observational, single-center study included 563 consecutive adults (≥ 18 years old) with multiple trauma who were admitted to our emergency department and hospitalized between January 2022 and December 2023. We assessed patient demographics (age and sex), vital signs on admission (systolic blood pressure \[SBP, mmHg\], heart rate \[HR, beats/min\], respiratory rate \[RR, breaths/min\], and peripheral oxygen saturation \[SpO2, %\]), complaints and symptoms on admission, anatomic region of injury, type of trauma (blunt or penetrating), mechanism of injury, BD measured in blood gases, INR, trauma scoring systems (e.g., GCS, RTS, ISS, and BIG score), and clinical outcomes (discharge, hospitalization, or death). The study cohort was divided into survivors and non-survivors. Survivors were defined as patients who were still alive after 28 days, while non-survivors had passed away within that time. The demographics, clinical characteristics, and trauma scoring systems were compared between survivors and non-survivors to determine the prognosis of patients with multiple trauma. Independent predictors of mortality were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis of variables (demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and trauma scores) that differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to establish cut-off values for the GCS, RTS, ISS, and BIG score, and then to assess the sensitivity and specificity of these scoring systems in terms of predicting in-hospital mortality.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
563
The trauma BIG score is used to predict posttraumatic injury severity and mortality. It was originally designed for the pediatric population. The score is calculated using the Base Deficit (BD), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission using the following formula: BIG score = (admission BD) + (2.5 × INR) + (15 - GCS).
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a neurological assessment tool used to evaluate the level of consciousness of a patient. It assesses three items: eye-opening (spontaneous, 4 points; to verbal stimuli, 3 points; to pain stimuli, 2 points; no response, 1 point); verbal responses (oriented, 5 points; confused but coherent speech, 4 points; inappropriate words, 3 points; incomprehensible speech, 2 points; no response, 1 point); and motor responses (obeys commands, 6 points; localizes pain, 5 points; withdraws from pain, 4 points; flexes in response to pain, 3 points; extends in response to pain, 2 points; no response, 1 point). The total GCS score is obtained by summing the scores for the three items, and it ranges from 3 to 15.
Haseki Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Fatih, Turkey (Türkiye)
Predictive ability of BIG score for 28-day mortality
The investigators assessed the predictive ability of BIG score in determining 28-day mortality.
Time frame: From admission to 28 days
Predictive ability of Glasgow coma scale for 28-day mortality
The investigators assessed the predictive ability of Glasgow coma scale in determining 28-day mortality.
Time frame: From admission to 28 days
Predictive ability of Revised Trauma Score for 28-day mortality
The investigators assessed the predictive ability of Revised Trauma score in determining 28-day mortality.
Time frame: From admission to 28 days
Predictive ability of Injury Severity Score for 28-day mortality
The investigators assessed the predictive ability of Injury Severity Score in determining 28-day mortality.
Time frame: From admission to 28 days
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is a physiological scoring system used to assess the severity of a traumatic injury. It considers three key parameters, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), and Respiratory Rate (RR), with a total score of 12 points. The study team retrospectively computed the RTS on admission by retrieving the GCS score, SBP, and RR per minute from the hospital's automated systems and archives.
The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is an anatomical scoring system used to assess the severity of injuries sustained by trauma patients. It provides a numerical value based on the anatomical regions of the body affected by trauma and the severity of those injuries. The ISS is calculated by dividing the body into six regions: the head/neck, face, chest, abdomen/pelvis, extremities, and external. Each region is assigned a score ranging from 1 to 6, with 1 indicating minor injury and 6 indicating severe injury. The highest score from each region is squared and then the scores are summed to calculate the overall ISS.