P.088 Antithrombotic agents and traumatic brain injury in the elderly population: hemorrhage patterns and outcomes

Abstract

Background: In the elderly population, use of antithrombotic therapy (AT), antiplatelets (AP – aspirin, clopidogrel) and/or anticoagulants (AC – warfarin, DoAC – Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban), to prevent thrombo-embolic events must be carefully weighed against the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) with trauma. We hypothesize that for all patients 65yro+ with head trauma, those on AT will be more likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury, ICH, and poorer outcomes. Methods: Data was collected from all head trauma patients 65yo+ presenting to our tertiary trauma center (level 1) over a 24-month period; age, gender, injury mechanism, medications, International Normalized Ratio, reversal therapy, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), ICH, surgery, Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score (GOSE) and mortality. Results: 1365 patients were identified; 724 on AT (413 AP, 151 AC, 59 DoAC, 48 2AP, 38 AP+AC, 15 AP+DoAC) and 474 not (non-AT). When adjusted for covariates, AT patients were more likely to have ICH (p=0.0004), more invasive surgical interventions (p=0.0188), functional dependency (GOSE≤4; p<0.0001) and mortality (p<0.0001). Risk of mortality is notably high with 2AP (OR 5.74; p=0.0003) and AC+AP (OR 4.12; p=0.0118). Conclusions: Elderly trauma patients on AT, especially combination therapy, have higher risks of ICH and poorer outcomes compared to those who are not.