A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea

Background. In the Republic of Korea, a trauma care system was not created until 2012, at which point regional trauma centers (RTCs) were established nationwide. In accordance with the national emergency care system and legislation, regional and local emergency medical centers (EMCs) also treat pati...

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Main Authors: Yuri Choi, Jinwoo Jeong, Sung Woo Lee, Kap Su Han, Su Jin Kim, Won Young Kim, Hyunggoo Kang, Eun Seog Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Emergency Medicine International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5749993
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author Yuri Choi
Jinwoo Jeong
Sung Woo Lee
Kap Su Han
Su Jin Kim
Won Young Kim
Hyunggoo Kang
Eun Seog Hong
author_facet Yuri Choi
Jinwoo Jeong
Sung Woo Lee
Kap Su Han
Su Jin Kim
Won Young Kim
Hyunggoo Kang
Eun Seog Hong
author_sort Yuri Choi
collection DOAJ
description Background. In the Republic of Korea, a trauma care system was not created until 2012, at which point regional trauma centers (RTCs) were established nationwide. In accordance with the national emergency care system and legislation, regional and local emergency medical centers (EMCs) also treat patients presenting with trauma. The aim of the present study was to assess whether treatment in RTCs is truly associated with better patient outcomes than that in EMCs by means of propensity score-matched comparisons and to identify populations that would benefit from treatment in RTCs. Methods. This study analyzed the data of patients with consecutive emergency visits between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, collected in the National Emergency Department Information System registry. Data from RTCs, designated regional EMCs, or local EMCs were included; data from smaller emergency departments were excluded because, in Korea, dedicated RTCs are established only in hospitals with regional or local EMCs. Propensity scores for treatment in RTCs or EMCs were estimated by logistic regression using linear terms. Mortality rates in RTCs and EMCs were compared between the matched samples. Results. The in-hospital mortality rates in the matched cases treated in RTCs and EMCs were 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. The odds ratio for in-hospital mortality in RTCs over EMCs was 0.984 (95% confidence interval: 0.813–1.191). Among the subgroups evaluated, the subgroup of patients with injuries involving the chest or lower limbs showed a significant difference in the in-hospital mortality rate. Conclusion. There was no significant difference in the overall severity-adjusted mortality rate between patients treated in RTCs and EMCs. Treatment in an RTC might benefit those with injuries involving the chest or lower limbs.
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spelling doaj-art-a70cc920795745eca91e062ef4f567442025-08-20T02:20:11ZengWileyEmergency Medicine International2090-28592022-01-01202210.1155/2022/5749993A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of KoreaYuri Choi0Jinwoo Jeong1Sung Woo Lee2Kap Su Han3Su Jin Kim4Won Young Kim5Hyunggoo Kang6Eun Seog Hong7Department of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineBackground. In the Republic of Korea, a trauma care system was not created until 2012, at which point regional trauma centers (RTCs) were established nationwide. In accordance with the national emergency care system and legislation, regional and local emergency medical centers (EMCs) also treat patients presenting with trauma. The aim of the present study was to assess whether treatment in RTCs is truly associated with better patient outcomes than that in EMCs by means of propensity score-matched comparisons and to identify populations that would benefit from treatment in RTCs. Methods. This study analyzed the data of patients with consecutive emergency visits between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, collected in the National Emergency Department Information System registry. Data from RTCs, designated regional EMCs, or local EMCs were included; data from smaller emergency departments were excluded because, in Korea, dedicated RTCs are established only in hospitals with regional or local EMCs. Propensity scores for treatment in RTCs or EMCs were estimated by logistic regression using linear terms. Mortality rates in RTCs and EMCs were compared between the matched samples. Results. The in-hospital mortality rates in the matched cases treated in RTCs and EMCs were 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. The odds ratio for in-hospital mortality in RTCs over EMCs was 0.984 (95% confidence interval: 0.813–1.191). Among the subgroups evaluated, the subgroup of patients with injuries involving the chest or lower limbs showed a significant difference in the in-hospital mortality rate. Conclusion. There was no significant difference in the overall severity-adjusted mortality rate between patients treated in RTCs and EMCs. Treatment in an RTC might benefit those with injuries involving the chest or lower limbs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5749993
spellingShingle Yuri Choi
Jinwoo Jeong
Sung Woo Lee
Kap Su Han
Su Jin Kim
Won Young Kim
Hyunggoo Kang
Eun Seog Hong
A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea
Emergency Medicine International
title A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea
title_full A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea
title_fullStr A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea
title_full_unstemmed A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea
title_short A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of In-Hospital Mortality between Dedicated Regional Trauma Centers and Emergency Medical Centers in the Republic of Korea
title_sort propensity score matched comparison of in hospital mortality between dedicated regional trauma centers and emergency medical centers in the republic of korea
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5749993
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