Researchers have utilized machine learning to distinguish different categories of trauma patients who have a higher chance of surviving their injuries if they are given tranexamic acid. This medication helps in controlling bleeding and ultimately prevents death from hemorrhage. The team has also pinpointed certain groups of trauma patients who do not experience any benefits from tranexamic acid. These findings are expected to assist in making treatment decisions following a traumatic injury and offer trauma patients with more personalized care.
Worldwide, approximately 4.5 million individuals pass away annually due to traumatic injury, with many of these patients succumbing to blood loss.
Tranexamic acid is a drug that can prevent excessive bleeding by reducing the body’s ability to break down blood clots. However, it can also cause unnecessary side effects in patients who do not really need it. This is why it’s important to identify the patients who will benefit the most from this treatment.
A recent study in Critical Care by researchers at Osaka University has tackled this issue by identifying specific subgroups of trauma patients who are more likely to survive when treated with tranexamic acid. They achieved this by analyzing trauma patients with similar characteristics.ts (also known as phenotypes).
“We discovered eight distinct trauma phenotypes, and then we assessed the efficacy of tranexamic acid treatment based on these phenotypes,” states lead author Jotaro Tachino. “We identified subsets of patients who experienced a significant decrease in in-hospital mortality when treated with tranexamic acid. Conversely, we also found subsets of patients who derived no benefit from the treatment.”
The team utilized a machine learning model to classify trauma patients into these subsets. By employing this method, researchers examined data from over 50,000 patients in the Japan Trauma Data Bank and analyzed common trends.Associated with trauma, treatment, and survival.
The team discovered a link between trauma phenotypes and in-hospital mortality, suggesting that TXA treatment could potentially impact this connection.
The researchers explained, “Trauma patients have diverse injuries that differ in type and severity, making it challenging to predict the effectiveness of treatment for each patient.” ”We anticipate that our findings will lead to more personalized care for individual trauma patients and enhance the overall quality of care for all trauma patients.”
Considering the significant number of deaths caused by traumatic injuries, it is crucial to understand the relationship between trauma, treatment, and survival.ury, it is crucial for patients and their families to have strategies that can enhance survival. This study plays a vital role in optimizing the use of tranexamic acid in trauma patients.