Traumatic injury may be a predisposing factor for cerebrovascular accident

J Trauma Nurs. 2013 Jul-Sep;20(3):139-43; quiz 144-5. doi: 10.1097/JTN.0b013e3182a171cf.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess whether trauma may be an independent risk factor for stroke. Evidence has shown that trauma patients experience a hypercoagulable state postinjury, increasing the risk of thrombotic events. A case-controlled, retrospective analysis was performed on admitted trauma patients over a 2-year period. Results revealed that trauma patients are 1.6 times more likely to have a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) during their hospital admission, when compared with nontrauma patients with similar CVA risk factors. Several statistically significant differences between the groups were identified. On the basis of these results, trauma appears to be an independent, nonmodifiable risk factor for CVA.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Education, Nursing, Continuing
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Thrombosis / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Thrombophilia / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult