Key result
Age ≥55 with low platelets and reduced aggregation on presentation is linked to higher post-injury mortality.
Why the study?
While platelets play an indispensable role in injury response, the impact of age on platelet dynamics after injury remains elusive.
Does increasing chronological age alter platelet dynamics and outcomes in injured patients?
Observational (n=716)
Does increasing chronological age alter platelet dynamics and outcomes in injured patients?
p-value: p=<0.05
In injured patients, increasing chronological age is associated with altered platelet profiles and hypercoagulable dynamics, which may portend worse outcomes including mortality.
May signal higher mortality risk in trauma patients ≥55 years; leaves open whether platelet-targeted interventions alter outcomes.
Introduction: Increasing chronological age drives dynamic changes in platelet functionality, bringing unique biologic challenges to the injured older adult. While platelets play an indispensable role in injury response, the impact of age on platelet dynamics after injury remains elusive. We examine the associations of age and platelet dynamics for injured patients not on antiplatelet therapy, hypothesizing that aging is associated with decreases in platelet count and function in injured patients. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of injured patients from a prospective observational study of coagulation and inflammation (2010-2024). Patients taking anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and/or with isolated traumatic brain injury were excluded. Univariable and multivariable associations of age and platelet count and function profiles (impedance aggregometry and viscoelastic testing) at presentation and up to seven days post-injury were analyzed. Platelet profiles, thromboembolic events, and mortality relationships were analyzed by stratifying age to <55 and ≥55 years. Results: 716 patients were examined. Median age was 36 years (range 15-97 years). On multivariable analyses platelet count and functional profiles demonstrated independent associations with increasing age at all time points measured — reduced platelet count, aggregation responses, and hypercoagulable clotting dynamics. In patients ≥55 years low platelet count and reduced aggregation responses on presentation were suggestive of increased mortality (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Following injury, increasing chronological age is independently associated with altered platelet profiles — reduced platelet count and aggregation responses with concurrent hypercoagulable clotting dynamics. These age-related cellular changes may portend worse outcomes, including mortality, and should be considered for intervenable biologic targets in future study.
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Beattie et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Injured patients (n=716). Increasing chronological age (≥55 years) vs. Age <55 years was evaluated on Platelet count, functional profiles, thromboembolic events, and mortality (p=<0.05). In injured patients, age ≥55 years with low platelet count and reduced aggregation responses on presentation was associated with increased mortality (p<0.05).
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