Does payer status matter in predicting penetrating trauma outcomes?

Background Few data exist regarding payer status as a predictor of outcomes in penetrating trauma. This study determined whether insurance status impacts in-hospital complications and mortality in gunshot and stab wound patients at our inner-city, level I trauma center. Methods Penetrating trauma admissions from 2005 to 2009 were reviewed for patient demographics, insurance, Injury Severity Score, complications, duration of stay, and mortality. Results A total of 1,347 penetrating trauma patients were admitted with 652 (48.4%) uninsured. Although uninsured patients were more likely to be male (93.3% vs 89.8%, P = .030), there was no difference in age, ISS, or number of radiologic, operative, or interventional procedures. Uninsured patients had lesser intensive care unit (4.4 vs 3.3 days; P = .049) and total hospital length of stay (10.2 vs 8.3; P = .049). No uninsured patients were placed into a rehabilitation facility at the time of discharge (0.0% vs 1.6%, P < .001). There was no difference in frequency of pulmonary complications, thromboembolic complications, sepsis, urinary tract infection, or wound infections. On multivariate analysis, being uninsured was not an independent predictor of in-hospital complications (1.010, 95% confidence interval 0.703–1.450, P = .959) or mortality (odds ratio 0.905, 95% confidence interval 0.523–1.566, P = .722). Conclusion This is the first study to show that penetrating trauma patients who are uninsured have lesser duration of stay and decreased placement into a rehabilitation facility. Being uninsured added no additional risk of in-hospital complications or mortality.