Sex dimorphisms in coagulation characteristics in the pediatric trauma population appear after puberty

BACKGROUND The role of age and sex in mediating coagulation characteristics in injured children is not well defined. We hypothesize that thromboelastography (TEG) profiles are equivalent across sex in younger children and diverge after puberty. METHODS Consecutive trauma patients younger than 18 years were identified from a university-affiliated, Level I, pediatric trauma center (2016–2020) database. Demographics, injury characteristics, and TEG parameters were recorded. Children were categorized by sex and age (younger, ≤10 years; older, ≥11 years). Baseline characteristics, outcomes, and TEG parameters were compared using nonparametric tests as appropriate. To account for the effects of confounding variables, analysis of covariance was performed controlling for Injury Severity Score (ISS), admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, and pediatric age-adjusted shock index. RESULTS Six hundred forty-seven subjects were identified (70.2% male, median ISS, 10; interquartile range, 5–24; blunt mechanism, 75.4%). Among 395 younger children (≤10 years), there were no differences in TEG characteristics between sexes. Among 252 adolescents (≥11 years), males had greater kinetic times (1.8 vs. 1.4 min; p
Source: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery - Category: Surgery Tags: 2021 AAST PODIUM PAPERS Source Type: research