3023 Older adults are now the face of major trauma in Ireland

Abstract Background The Major Trauma Audit is a national clinical audit managed by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), that captures data of patients with life threatening or life changing injuries. It has been publishing annual reports since 2014. Methods Originally established using the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) method, now entitled National Major Trauma Registry in the UK. Results In 2024 a focused report from 2017–2021 on older adults was published as this is the largest group of patients in the major trauma population (51%, n = 11,145). 56% of patients were female, the median age was 79 and 74% had pre-existing comorbidities. Low falls, of less than 2 metres, were the leading mechanism of injury (82%) and home was the main location of injury (70%). The most common injuries were limbs (27%) & head (25%). One third were allocated to the most severe injury category (injury severity score > 15). Older adults are less likely than <65’s to be pre-alerted (9% vs. 22%), received by a trauma team (6% vs. 15%), have longer hospital stays (12 vs 7 days), 22% of older adults were discharged to a nursing home and 44% went home. Mortality was 7%. Conclusion In light of recently published clinical guidance for the care of older adults with major trauma published by the Health Service Executive this data shows that significant improvement is required to create an age friendly healthcare system with prompt and effective care for older adults. Data from the MTA is being used to redesign the trauma system in Ireland into two networks with major trauma centres and trauma units so that the right patient can be brought to the right hospital at the right time.