Is obesity a protective factor in pediatric trauma? A retrospective review in a tertiary trauma centre over the decade.

Purpose: The obesity paradox has been demonstrated in the adult trauma population. Yet there are conflicting results in children. The study aims to investigate the effect of childhood obesity on the outcomes after sustaining trauma.

Method: All children (< 18-year-old) who attended a tertiary trauma centre from January 2010 to March 2022 due to impact trauma were included. The obese group was defined by a body weight > 95th percentile for age, and others were in the non-obese group. Outcomes, including injury-severity-scores (ISS), morbidity/mortality and length-of-stay (LOS), were compared between the groups. Subgroup analyses were performed on causes of injury and age groups. Severe injury was defined by ISS > 15.

Results: 148 subjects were included in the analysis (23 in the obese group; 123 in the non-obese group). They were similar in terms of injury causes and outcomes. The obese group had longer LOS (4 days vs 2 days, p = 0.022), and a higher proportion of them had severe injuries when < 11-year-old (28.6% vs 9%, p = 0.034).

Conclusion: In contrast to adults, childhood obesity appears not to be a protective factor in trauma, and may be a risk factor, especially in younger children, for more severe injuries. Careful evaluation of obese children sustaining trauma is warranted to prevent injuries from being overlooked.