The impact of patient sex on survival after unintentional trauma in Korea: a retrospective, observational, case-control study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the relationship between sex and survival in patients experiencing unintentional trauma. METHODS: This retrospective, national population–based observational, case-control study involved a cohort of Korean trauma patients who were transferred to an emergency department by a Korean emergency medical service from January 1 to December 31, 2018. Propensity score matching was used. The primary outcome was survival until hospital discharge. RESULTS: Of 25,743 patients with severe unintentional trauma, 17,771 were male and 7,972 were female. Prior to propensity score matching, there was no significant difference in survival among male and female patients (92.6% vs. 93.1%, P=0.105). After using propensity score matching to adjust for confounders, there was still no sex difference in survival (male, 93.6% vs. female, 93.1%; P=0.270). CONCLUSION: Survival after severe trauma was not influenced by the sex of the patient. Further studies with patients of reproductive age and a larger study population are needed to analyze the effects of sex on survival in patients with trauma.