The elderly may have an increased number of pre-existing conditions that are likely to influence the patient's response to trauma.

In North America, one out of 5 trauma victims had one or more pre-existing medical conditions (PEMCs) which were more prevalent with advancing age. Moreover, these conditions adversely influenced treatment and recovery outcomes and as the numbers of PEMCs rose, the mortality increased. Furthermore, the effect of PEMCs on death was most marked in those patients who had a mild injury. Mortality doubled in the severely injured younger patients with the presence of a PEMC.

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