Table 1.
Baseline characteristics and re-presentation rates to the ED within 30 days of discharge for all trauma patients admitted from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2007.
| Baseline Characteristics | Total Patients in Sample |
Re-presented to the ED, n (% of Total) |
|---|---|---|
| n | 6,675 | 886 (13.3) |
| Insurance | ||
| Commercial | 1,210 (18.1) | 98 (8.1) |
| Uninsured | 4,571 (68.5) | 665 (14.6) |
| Public | 894 (13.4) | 123 (13.8) |
| Race | ||
| White | 1,496 (22.4) | 138 (9.2) |
| Black | 4,777 (71.6) | 694 (14.5) |
| Other | 402 (6.0) | 54 (13.4) |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 1,359 (20.4) | 163 (12.0) |
| Male | 5,316 (79.6) | 723 (13.6) |
|
Charlson Comorbidity Index, mean (SD) |
0.22 (0.58) | |
| 0 | 5,594 (83.8) | 740 (13.2) |
| 1 | 815 (12.2) | 109 (13.4) |
| 2 | 131 (2.0) | 17 (13.0) |
| ≥3 | 135 (2.0) | 20 (14.8) |
| ISS, mean (SD) | 8.445 (8.28) | |
| <9 | 3,641 (54.5) | 442 (12.1) |
| 9–15 | 1,859 (27.9) | 272 (14.6) |
| 16–24 | 712 (10.7) | 112 (15.7) |
| >24 | 463 (6.9) | 60 (13.0) |
| Injury mechanism | ||
| Penetrating trauma | 2,748 (41.2) | 456 (11.6) |
| Blunt trauma | 3,927 (58.8) | 430 (15.7) |
| Disposition | ||
| Home | 5,513 (82.6) | 763 (13.8) |
| Home with services | 395 (5.9) | 66 (16.7) |
| Rehabilitation, nursing, acute care facility |
634 (9.5) | 34 (5.4) |
| Against medical advice or unknown |
133 (2.0) | 23 (17.3) |
| Median neighborhood household income, $* |
||
| <20,000 | 1,050 (21.3) | 185 (17.6) |
| 20,000–40,000 | 2,525 (51.2) | 360 (14.3) |
| >40,000 | 1,360 (27.6) | 127 (9.3) |
| Age, y, mean (SD) | 34.34 (12.10) | — |
| Length of stay, mean (SD) | 4.54 (10.20) | — |
ISS, Injury Severity Score.
*
Percentages are based on a subset of patients for whom income data were available (n=4,935).