The Impact of Time to Definitive Care on Patient Outcomes: Examining 'Golden Hour' Compliance and Its Effects on Mortality and Morbidity

Authors: Faisal H. Bin Holiel, Fahad B. Alzahrani, Nayef A. Alshehry, Mohammed H. Alhallaf

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14511992

Short DOI: https://doi.org/g8v8xv

Country: Saudi Arabia

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Abstract: Background: The "golden hour" principle emphasizes the importance of providing definitive care within the first 60 minutes following trauma to improve outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate golden hour compliance and its impact on mortality and morbidity among trauma patients in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 320 trauma patients over a 12-month period. Data on pre-hospital delays, in-hospital interventions, and patient outcomes were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of mortality.
Results: Golden hour compliance was achieved in 65.6% of patients. Non-compliance was significantly associated with higher mortality (31.8% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001), increased ICU admissions (68.2% vs. 38.1%, p < 0.001), longer hospital stays, and greater ventilator dependence. Key factors contributing to delays included extended pre-hospital times (59.1%) and trauma team activation delays (18.2%). Logistic regression identified golden hour non-compliance as the strongest predictor of mortality (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1–6.0, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Golden hour non-compliance significantly worsens trauma outcomes. Addressing pre-hospital delays and optimizing in-hospital trauma systems are critical to improving patient survival and recovery.

Keywords: Golden hour, Trauma care, Definitive care, Mortality, Pre-hospital delays, Tertiary hospital, Injury severity

Paper Id: 231859

Published On: 2020-05-05

Published In: Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2020

Cite This: The Impact of Time to Definitive Care on Patient Outcomes: Examining 'Golden Hour' Compliance and Its Effects on Mortality and Morbidity - Faisal H. Bin Holiel, Fahad B. Alzahrani, Nayef A. Alshehry, Mohammed H. Alhallaf - IJIRMPS Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2020. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.14511992

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