This prospective cohort study from Germany found an under triage rate of 58% of trauma patients over 70 years presenting to 12 trauma centers. One area that consistently lead to undertriage was not using a systolic blood pressure under 110 as a criteria for trauma team activation.
The older cohort had 3 times the mortality than younger, were more likely not to arrive by helicopter and mechanism was more commonly ground level fall. This study echos many others in USA and Australia. Better trauma triage criteria are needed for older patients.
References
Koch, D.A., Becker, L., Schweigkofler, U. _et al._Undertriage in geriatric trauma: insights from a multicentre cohort study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med33, 123 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-025-01432-0
