Mobile telephone follow-up assessment of postdischarge death and disability due to trauma in Cameroon: a prospective cohort study

ObjectivesIn Cameroon, long-term outcomes after discharge from trauma are largely unknown, limiting our ability to identify opportunities to reduce the burden of injury. In this study, we evaluated injury-related death and disability in Cameroonian trauma patients over a 6-month period after hospital discharge.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingFour hospitals in the Littoral and Southwest regions of Cameroon.ParticipantsA total of 1914 patients entered the study, 1304 were successfully contacted. Inclusion criteria were patients discharged after being treated for traumatic injury at each of four participating hospitals during a 20-month period. Those who did not possess a cellular phone or were unable to provide a phone number were excluded.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe Glasgow Outcome Scale—Extended (GOSE) was administered to trauma patients at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post discharge. Median GOSE scores for each timepoint were compared and regression analyses were performed to determine associations with death and disability.ResultsOf 71 deaths recorded, 90% occurred by 2 weeks post discharge. At 6 months, 22% of patients still experienced severe disability. Median (IQR) GOSE scores at the four timepoints were 4 (3–7), 5 (4–8), 7 (4–8) and 7 (5–8), respectively, (p