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Table 2 Characteristics of avalanche victims with or without posttraumatic stress disorder according the IES-R score

From: Survivors of avalanche accidents: posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and quality of life: a multicentre study

 

PTSD +

n = 6

PTSD -

n = 49

p-value*

Patient characteristics

 Age, mean ± SD

36.8 ± 13.8

36.2 ± 11.5

0.59

 Men, n (%)

4 (66.7)

41 (83.7)

0.30

 Profession related to the mountains, n (%)

2 (33.3)

19 (38.8)

0.99

Family situation, n (%)

Surrounded

4 (66.7)

33 (67.3)

0.99

Isolated

2 (33.3)

16 (32.7)

 

Psychiatric history, n (%)

0 (0)

5 (10.2)

0.99

Avalanche history, n (%)

1 (16.7)

7 (14.3)

0.99

Other mountain accident, n (%)

4 (66.7)

17 (34.7)

0.19

Other trauma, n (%)

2 (33.3)

12 (24.5)

0.64

Avalanche characteristics

 Time since the avalanche, mean in month ± SD

31.8 ± 15.6

27.3 ± 14.3

0.41

 Multiples involved victims, n (%)

4 (66.7)

27 (55.1)

0.69

 Death in the avalanche, n (%)

0 (0)

6 (12.2)

0.99

Burial, n (%)

Complete

5 (83.3)

14 (28.6)

0.02

Depth**, mean in meter ± SD

0.77 ± 0.25

0.93 ± 0.69

0.73

Time**, mean in minute ± SD

7.33 ± 2.52

12.58 ± 9.55

0.45

Activity during the avalanche, n (%)

Alpine skiing

2 (33.3)

1 (2.0)

0.03

Alpine off-piste skiing

2 (33.3)

20 (40.8)

0.99

Touring skiing

2 (33.3)

25 (51.0)

0.67

Alpinism

0 (0.0)

1 (2.0)

0.99

Hiking (with or without snowshoe)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.0)

0.99

Unknown

0 (0.0)

1 (2.0)

0.99

Clinical consequences and medical management

 Trauma lesion, n (%)

5 (83.3)

37 (75.5)

0.99

 ISS, n (%) ≥ 15

1 (16.7)

10 (20.4)

0.99

 Loss of consciousness, n (%)

2 (33.3)

9 (18.4)

0.59

Pain management, n (%)

Opioids

1 (16.7)

15 (31.9)

0.65

Ketamine

1 (16.7)

8 (17.0)

0.99

Intubation, n (%)

2 (33.3)

2 (4.1)

0.06

ICU, n (%)

2 (33.3)

7 (14.3)

0.25

Benzodiazepines, n (%)

1 (16.7)

3 (6.1)

0.37

Patient’s outcomes

Exit***, n (%)

Home

3 (75.0)

44 (91.7)

0.34

Rehabilitation

1 (25.0)

4 (8.3)

 

Incomplete recovery, n (%)

1 (16.7)

15 (30.6)

0.66

  1. *Chi-2 or Fisher’s exact test when appropriate, Student t-test for means. **Depth and time of burial were reported only for victims who were completely buried. ***Not admitted or discharge after hospital stay. IES-R Impact of Event Scale Revised; PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder; SD Standard Deviation; ISS Injury Severity Score; ICU Intensive Care Unit