Traumatic coagulopathy in the older patient: analysis of coagulation profiles from the Activation of Coagulation and Inflammation in Trauma-2 (ACIT-2) observational, multicenter study

BACKGROUND: Most studies describing traumatic coagulopathy have used data from patient cohorts with an average age of between 35 and 45 years. The last 10 years has seen a steep increase in the number of patients admitted with significant injury and bleeding who are older than the age of 65 years. Many coagulation protein levels alter significantly with normal aging, and it is possible that traumatic coagulopathy has a different signature with age. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report the coagulation profiles, including standard and extended laboratory, as well as viscoelastic hemostatic assays, stratified according to age to explore age-related differences in hemostatic capability. METHODS: In total, 1576 patients were analyzed from 6 European level 1 trauma centers. RESULTS: As age increased, there was evidence of higher fibrinogen, greater thrombin generation, greater clotting factor consumption, and greater activation of fibrinolysis. Despite this, shock and severe injury led to the same pattern of changes within age groups: lower procoagulant factors (including fibrinogen), increased fibrinolysis, and higher levels of activated protein C. Thromboelastography and rotational thromboelastometry tests detected traumatic coagulopathy with prolongation of R/clotting time and reductions in clot amplitudes in each age cohort. Advancing age strongly correlated with higher fibrinogen levels and greater fibrinolysis. CONCLUSION: Age-related coagulation changes are evident in injured patients. Broadly, similar patterns of coagulation abnormalities are seen across age groups following severe injury/shock, but thresholds for single clotting factors differ. Age-related differences may need to be considered when clinical treatments (eg, transfusion therapy) are indicated.