Preprint
Article

This version is not peer-reviewed.

Facial Trauma Patterns Among Housed and Unhoused Populations: A Retrospective Study of NTDB Data

Submitted:

26 June 2026

Posted:

29 June 2026

You are already at the latest version

Abstract
Unhoused individuals are three times more likely to sustain traumatic injuries than the general population, with approximately 40% experiencing head and facial trauma. Limited access to follow-up care can delay treatment and worsen outcomes. This study examined the incidence, fracture types, and outcomes of facial trauma in relation to housing status. A retrospective analysis was conducted using the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). Demographics, injury patterns, hospital course metrics, and discharge locations were compared between housed and unhoused patients. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Chi-squared tests, and regression models for length of stay (LOS) and discharge location. Unhoused patients were significantly older than housed (46.54 vs. 43.82 years, p< 0.001) with male predominance (70% vs 65% male, χ²=286.92, p< 0.001). Despite higher ICU admission rates (58.4% vs. 51.4%, p< 0.001), they had shorter hospital stays (6.95 vs. 10.60 days, p< 0.001) and were more likely to receive non-surgical management despite similar injury patterns. Insurance coverage was lower among unhoused individuals, who demonstrated a higher burden of comorbidities, including alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and mental/personality disorders. Multivariate analysis revealed that housing status remained a significant predictor of LOS and discharge location after controlling for demographics, insurance status, fracture type, and comorbidities (p< 0.01). Unhoused populations face significant disparities in facial trauma care. Future research should explore evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes, including immediate surgical intervention when feasible, as follow-up care remains a significant challenge for unhoused patients.
Keywords: 
;  ;  ;  

Background

Unhoused individuals are at substantially increased risk for head and neck trauma compared to the general population. In a large North American cohort study of trauma patients, 65.6% of people experiencing unhousedness (PEH) sustained injuries to the head and neck, compared to 49.3% of housed patients [1]. Additionally, clinically significant dental problems have been identified in two-thirds of unhoused individuals [2]. Unhoused individuals are a vulnerable group susceptible to traumatic injuries, with worse health outcomes than the general population [3]. Limited access to follow-up care can delay treatment and worsen outcomes [4]. unhoused patients with facial fractures are more likely to have been assaulted, suffer mandible fractures, and require surgery for their fractures as opposed to their housed counterparts [3]. They are among the most common repeat visitors to emergency departments, with a rate of nearly double that of individuals with private residences, experiencing longer lengths of stay, resulting in greater overall costs [5]. Regardless of being a high-risk population, epidemiological research about the injuries among unhoused individuals is limited [5]. While the clinical management of facial fractures has been well studied, less attention has been paid to how social determinants of health, particularly housing status, may influence patterns of injury, treatment decisions, and outcomes. Unhoused individuals, who experience unstable living conditions, limited access to healthcare, and higher rates of coexisting conditions, may encounter unique barriers within the trauma care spectrum, such as delayed clinical presentation [2].
The intersection between unhousedness and trauma care has been explored in prior literature, but studies focusing specifically on facial trauma within this population remain limited [3]. Understanding whether and how housing status affects injury severity, hospital resource utilization, and discharge outcomes is crucial for informing equitable and effective trauma care practices. To address this gap, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the incidence, fracture types, and outcomes of facial trauma in relation to housing status. By analyzing differences in care utilization and outcomes, this study seeks to clarify the influence of housing status on trauma care delivery and to highlight potential areas for intervention to reduce health disparities in this vulnerable population.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) from 2021 to 2022. The NTDB is the largest publicly available trauma registry in the United States and includes standardized data from over 900 trauma centers nationwide. All data used were de-identified and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Institutional review board (IRB) approval was not required due to the use of publicly available, de-identified data.
Patients of all ages with documented facial trauma were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes corresponding to orbital, nasal, maxillary, mandibular, and zygomatic fractures. Patients were included if they had a recorded housing status and met the criteria for traumatic facial injury. Patients with missing or indeterminate housing data were excluded from the analysis. The cohort was stratified into two groups based on housing status: housed and unhoused, as defined in the NTDB using social determinant variables collected at hospital intake.
Demographic variables included age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Clinical data extracted included Injury Severity Score (ISS), mechanism of injury (e.g., assault, fall, motor vehicle collision), and presence of concomitant head trauma. Specific facial fracture types were categorized by anatomical location. Hospital course metrics included intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU LOS. Discharge disposition was categorized as home, skilled nursing facility (SNF), rehabilitation center, or other. Additional hospital complication variables were extracted. These variables were included to evaluate in-hospital morbidity and complications associated with facial trauma care by housing status. In addition, surgical management was evaluated using ICD-10 procedure codes corresponding to facial trauma interventions. Patients with available procedure data were classified as receiving surgical vs. non-surgical management based on these codes. Surgical intervention rates were then compared between housed and unhoused groups to assess disparities in operative care.
Primary outcomes included fracture type incidence and discharge disposition. Secondary outcomes included differences in LOS, ICU utilization, and presence of concomitant injuries. Comparisons were made between housed and unhoused groups to assess disparities.
Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. Continuous variables were compared using independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests depending on distribution normality, assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the impact of housing status on hospital LOS and ICU LOS, controlling for age, ISS, and fracture type. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine predictors of discharge disposition. A two-sided p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analyses were conducted using R.

Results

A total of 129,767 patients with facial trauma and documented housing status were included in the analysis, comprising 2,282 unhoused and 127,485 housed individuals. Unhoused patients were significantly older than their housed counterparts (mean age 46.54 vs. 43.82 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be male (70% vs. 65%, χ2 = 286.92, p < 0.001) (Table 1). Racial and ethnic distributions differed between groups, with a higher proportion of Black and Hispanic individuals among the unhoused cohort. Despite presenting with similar patterns of facial fractures, unhoused individuals experienced higher rates of ICU admission (58.4% vs. 51.4%, p < 0.001), yet had shorter hospital stays (mean LOS 6.95 vs. 10.60 days, p < 0.001) (Table 2).
Among unhoused individuals, the most common facial fracture was of the nasal bones, occurring in 86% of unhoused men (n=1662) and 84% of unhoused women (n=291). Traumatic tooth fractures were the second most prevalent, observed in 14% of unhoused men (n=266) and 16% of unhoused women (n=56). Among housed individuals, similar patterns emerged: nasal bone fractures occurred in 81% of men (n=70,290) and 81% of women (n=32,921), while traumatic tooth fractures were seen in 19% of men (n=15,989) and 19% of women (n=7,517). Fractures of the orbital floor were rare in both groups, comprising only 0.05% of housed men (n=40) and women (n=20); data were not available for unhoused patients. Dislocation of the jaw was only documented in one housed woman (Table 3).
A total of 862 patients (0.66%) received surgical management for facial trauma. Among unhoused patients, only 8 of 2,020 (0.40%) received surgical intervention, compared to 854 of 112,887 (0.76%) in the housed group. While surgical management was less frequent in the unhoused cohort, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.083), suggesting no strong association between housing status and likelihood of operative treatment in this dataset (Table 4).
Mechanism of injury also differed significantly by housing status. Among unhoused individuals, the most common cause of facial trauma was assault during unarmed brawls or fights, accounting for 24% (n=547), followed by pedestrian injury in car collisions (17%, n=376), and assault by blunt object (16%, n=352). Other notable causes included falls on the same level (9%, n=198) and assault by unspecified means (6%, n=147). In contrast, among housed patients, the leading mechanisms were falls on the same level from slipping or tripping (24%, n=30,629), followed by assault from unarmed fights (11%, n=13,923), and pedestrian injury in car collisions (7%, n=8,370). Women in the housed cohort experienced facial trauma more frequently from falls (e.g., 14% of falls on the same level), while men were more frequently injured from interpersonal assault. Assault-related etiologies (including unarmed fights, blunt objects, or bodily force) were substantially more prevalent among the unhoused, with combined assault mechanisms accounting for over 50% of facial trauma incidents in this group, compared to just 18% in the housed cohort. Conversely, falls and motor vehicle collisions were more common causes of trauma among housed individuals. Full data are shown in Table 5.
Unhoused patients exhibited a higher burden of comorbid conditions, including alcohol use disorder, tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and mental or personality disorders, all of which were significantly more prevalent in this group compared to housed individuals (p < 0.01 for all comparisons).
In-hospital complications also differed between housed and unhoused individuals. Unhoused patients experienced high rates of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (25.16% of men, 14.12% of women) and delirium (11.62% of men, 14.99% of women), consistent with their greater burden of mental health and substance use disorders. Unplanned ICU admission was also frequent, affecting 17.84% of unhoused men and 20.17% of unhoused women. Other complications such as unplanned intubation (11.05% of men, 8.36% of women), pressure ulcers, pulmonary embolism, and ventilator-associated pneumonia were also observed at nontrivial rates. Compared to housed patients, the unhoused group showed similar or slightly lower proportions for most major complications, although their absolute numbers were smaller due to lower cohort size. These findings suggest that while the types of complications were broadly similar, the clinical course of unhoused patients may be shaped more by baseline vulnerability and follow-up limitations than by complication rate alone. Full data are available in Table 6.
Insurance coverage was markedly lower among the unhoused, with a greater proportion lacking any form of insurance at the time of presentation (p < 0.001). These disparities in baseline characteristics and access to care appeared to influence downstream outcomes. In terms of discharge disposition, housed patients were more frequently discharged home, whereas unhoused individuals were significantly more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, or other institutional settings (p < 0.001). The proportion of unhoused patients discharged to another hospital or who left against medical advice was also higher. Discharge data are shown in Table 7.
Multivariable regression analyses confirmed that housing status remained an independent predictor of both hospital length of stay and discharge disposition after adjusting for age, sex, race, insurance status, injury severity, fracture type, and comorbidities. Specifically, being unhoused was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay (p < 0.01) and a higher likelihood of non-home discharge (p < 0.01), highlighting the influence of social determinants on trauma care outcomes even after accounting for clinical and demographic factors.

Discussion

In this analysis of facial trauma across housed and unhoused populations, several demographic, clinical, and systemic disparities were identified, many of which may influence both immediate care decisions and long-term outcomes. Housing status emerged as an independent predictor of hospitalization parameters and discharge outcome, highlighting the substantial impact of social determinants of health on trauma care.
Unhoused patients were significantly older and more likely to be male. This predominance has been previously reported in studies on injury epidemiology among unhoused populations and likely reflects broader trends in risk-taking behavior, substance use, and greater exposure to interpersonal violence [6]. These factors, which are more prevalent among men, may contribute to their increased risk of injury and higher rates of hospital utilization. Older age in the unhoused group may suggest delayed access to or avoidance of care, leading to more severe presentations later in life. Moreover, the phenomenon of “accelerated aging” in unhoused populations has been described, wherein middle-aged individuals often present with comorbidity profiles more typical of geriatric patients [2]. Baggett et al. points out that the combination of multiple health problems and difficult living conditions in unhoused individuals leads to more serious health issues by the time they seek care [2].
Although housed and unhoused individuals sustained similar types of facial fractures, such as those involving the mandible, maxilla, and orbit, their treatment differed significantly. This similarity in injury patterns suggests that the mechanisms causing these injuries are likely comparable, a finding consistent with previous studies indicating that unhousedness alone does not lead to unique fracture types [3]. However, in our cohort, unhoused patients were more likely to be admitted to the ICU. These disparities reflect broader structural and clinical challenges, including a higher burden of medical comorbidities, limited access to follow-up care, and provider concerns about patients’ ability to adhere to post-discharge plans, factors known to impact trauma care in marginalized groups [7].
Although differences in surgical management between housed and unhoused groups did not reach statistical significance, the observed trend toward fewer operative interventions in unhoused individuals aligns with prior studies suggesting that housing instability may influence provider decisions [1,8,9,10]. National trauma registry analyses have demonstrated that socioeconomic factors, including insurance status and housing instability, are associated with disparities in the rates and timing of operative intervention for facial trauma [9,10]. Qualitative research further indicates that clinicians may consider housing status in minor surgical decision-making, often due to concerns about postoperative care, follow-up, and social support, even if major operative decisions are not explicitly based on housing status [8]. These findings are consistent with broader literature on disparities in surgical care for vulnerable populations, including those experiencing unhousedness or unstable housing [9,10].
Analysis showed that despite higher intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates among unhoused individuals, their hospital length of stay (LOS) was significantly shorter. This pattern has been observed in multiple trauma cohorts, where unhoused patients had higher odds of ICU admission compared to housed patients, but their median or mean LOS was either shorter or not significantly different after adjustment for injury severity and comorbidities [1,11,12,13,14].
Several factors may contribute to this finding. Limitations in follow-up capacity, lack of stable housing, and hospital resource prioritization often necessitate earlier discharge for unhoused patients, even when clinical readiness may be uncertain [1,8,15]. Qualitative studies and trauma registry analyses indicate that providers frequently cite barriers to safe discharge and concerns about the feasibility of outpatient follow-up as drivers of early discharge decisions in this population [1,8,15]. This is further supported by increased rates of emergency department recidivism and hospital readmission among unhoused individuals, highlighting the ongoing challenges in post-discharge care coordination [11,13].
Unhoused patients in our study had significantly higher rates of comorbidities, including alcohol and tobacco use, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health disorders. These findings are consistent with national trends demonstrating that unhousedness is associated with a greater burden of both physical and mental illness, including higher prevalence of substance use disorders, chronic medical conditions, and psychiatric comorbidities [12,16,17,18]. Multiple trauma and surgical cohorts have shown that unhoused patients present with higher rates of alcohol and drug use, mental illness, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension compared to housed patients [12,14,16,19,20].
Clinically, these comorbidities complicate trauma management and can influence treatment choices. For example, uncontrolled diabetes or active substance use may increase perioperative risk, prompting providers to favor non-operative or conservative management even when surgery might otherwise be indicated [8]. This may contribute to the higher rates of conservative management observed in this group [8].
Disparities in insurance coverage further intensify these challenges. A much larger share of unhoused patients were uninsured, a factor consistently linked to lower surgical rates and worse trauma outcomes [21]. In resource-limited settings, or when follow-up depends on coverage, providers may avoid interventions with high long-term costs or care demands if they doubt the patient can access post-operative support [21]. These vulnerabilities were evident in discharge patterns: unhoused patients were less often discharged home and more often sent to rehabilitation centers, other hospitals, or left against medical advice. Such outcomes underscore the difficulty of ensuring coordinated recovery without stable housing. Together, the elevated comorbidity burden and lack of insurance likely contribute to both differences in acute treatment and broader disparities in post-injury recovery.

Conclusions

Unhoused populations face significant disparities in facial trauma care. Future research should explore evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes, including immediate surgical intervention when feasible, as follow-up care remains a significant challenge for unhoused patients.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.Z. and K.W.; methodology, R.Z. and K.W.; validation, A.H., S.L., formal analysis, R.Z. and K.W., investigation, R.Z. and K.W., data curation, R.A., A.R., T.G., I.G.; writing—original draft preparation, R.Z., R.A., A.R., T.G., I.G., writing—review and editing, R.Z., R.A., A.R., T.G., I.G., A.H., S.L.; visualization, R.A., A.R., T.G., I.G.; supervision, A.H., S.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Ethical review and approval were waived for this study because it utilized the deidentified National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) dataset, which contains no protected health information or direct patient identifiers and therefore does not constitute human subjects research.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study were obtained from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) of the American College of Surgeons. Data may be obtained directly from the American College of Surgeons upon request and with permission from the NTDB from this link: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/quality/national-trauma-data-bank/.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Silver, C.M.; Thomas, A.C.; Reddy, S.; et al. Injury Patterns and Hospital Admission After Trauma Among People Experiencing Homelessness. JAMA Netw. Open. 2023, 6, e2320862. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Baggett, T.P.; O’Connell, J.J.; Singer, D.E.; Rigotti, N.A. The unmet health care needs of homeless adults: A national study. Am. J. Public Health 2010, 100, 1326–1333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Nguyen, A.B.; Grimes, B.; Neuhaus, J.; Pomerantz, J.H. A Cross-sectional Study of the Association between Homelessness and Facial Fractures. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. Glob. Open 2019, 7, e2254. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Wasicek, P.J.; Gebran, S.G.; Ngaage, L.M.; et al. Contemporary Characterization of Injury Patterns, Initial Management, and Disparities in Treatment of Facial Fractures Using the National Trauma Data Bank. J. Craniofac Surg. 2019, 30, 2052–2056. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Mackelprang, J.L.; Graves, J.M.; Rivara, F.P. Homeless in America: Injuries treated in US emergency departments, 2007-2011. Int. J. Inj. Contr Saf. Promot. 2014, 21, 289–297. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Hwang, S.W. Homelessness and health. CMAJ Can. Med. Assoc. J. 2001, 164, 229–233. [Google Scholar]
  7. Schaffer, K.B.; Wang, J.; Nasrallah, F.S.; et al. Disparities in triage and management of the homeless and the elderly trauma patient. Inj. Epidemiol. 2020, 7, 39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Decker, H.; Raguram, M.; Kanzaria, H.K.; Duke, M.; Wick, E. Provider perceptions of challenges and facilitators to surgical care in unhoused patients: A qualitative analysis. Surgery 2024, 175, 1095–1102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  9. Evans, E.E.; Kunnath, N.; Oh, E.J.; Scott, J.W.; Janeway, M. Housing Instability and Outcomes Among Patients With Access-Sensitive Surgical Conditions. J. Surg. Res. 2025, 305, 56–64. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  10. Fazzalari, A.; Alfego, D.; Shortsleeve, J.T.; et al. Treatment of Facial Fractures at a Level 1 Trauma Center: Do Medicaid and Non-Medicaid Enrollees Receive the Same Care? J. Surg. Res. 2020, 252, 183–191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  11. Beaulieu-Jones, B.R.; Smith, S.M.; Kobzeva-Herzog, A.J.; et al. Association of houselessness and outcomes after traumatic injury: A retrospective, matched cohort study at an urban, academic level-one trauma center. Injury 2025, 56, 112214. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Kovacs, M.S.; Cucher, D.J.; Thiessen, N.; Ghaemmaghami, V.; Watt, J.M.; Hu, C.K. Outcomes and characteristics differ between homeless and housed trauma patients following the COVID-19 pandemic. Injury 2025, 56, 112062. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  13. Sauro, K.M.; O’Rielly, C.M.; Kersen, J.; Soo, A.; Bagshaw, S.M.; Stelfox, H.T. Critical illness among patients experiencing homelessness: A retrospective cohort study. Crit. Care Lond. Engl. 2023, 27, 477. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Smith, O.M.; Chant, C.; Burns, K.E.A.; et al. Characteristics, clinical course, and outcomes of homeless and non-homeless patients admitted to ICU: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS ONE 2017, 12, e0179207. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  15. Park, S.; Kim, S.; Kim, H.K.; et al. Unhoused and Injured: Injury Characteristics and Outcomes in Unhoused Trauma Patients. J. Surg. Res. 2024, 301, 365–370. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  16. Silver, C.M.; Thomas, A.C.; Reddy, S.; et al. Morbidity and Length of Stay After Injury Among People Experiencing Homelessness in North America. JAMA Netw. Open. 2024, 7, e240795. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  17. Lanham, J.S.; White, P.; Gaffney, B. Care of People Experiencing Homelessness. Am. Fam. Physician 2022, 106, 684–693. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  18. Skicki, E.J.; Morgan, M.; Brown, C.; Bresz, K.; Bradburn, E. The Homeless Population: Medical Refugees in a Mature Trauma System. Am. Surg. 2023, 89, 2362–2367. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  19. Decker, H.C.; Kanzaria, H.K.; Evans, J.; Pierce, L.; Wick, E.C. Association of Housing Status With Types of Operations and Postoperative Health Care Utilization. Ann. Surg. 2023, 278, 883–889. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  20. Cole, K.L.; Findlay, M.C.; Earl, E.; et al. Understanding the Unique Challenges Faced by Homeless Patients With Acute Traumatic Neurosurgical Injuries. Neurosurgery 2023, 93, 292–299. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  21. Haider, A.H.; Weygandt, P.L.; Bentley, J.M.; et al. Disparities in trauma care and outcomes in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013, 74, 1195–1205. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Table 1. Demographics.
Table 1. Demographics.
Unhoused Housed
Age Range Men, n (%) Women, n (%) Men, n (%) Women, n (%)
0-18 9 (0.47%) 4 (1.17%) 7477 (8.80%) 3910 (10.31%)
19-25 138 (7.19%) 37 (10.79%) 10095 (11.88%) 3546 (9.35%)
26-35 416 (21.68%) 103 (30.03%) 16231 (19.09%) 4985 (13.14%)
36-45 483 (25.17%) 108 (31.49%) 13577 (15.97%) 3700 (9.75%)
46-55 395 (20.58%) 39 (11.37%) 11144 (13.11%) 3141 (8.28%)
56-65 378 (19.70%) 40 (11.66%) 11295 (13.29%) 4057 (10.70%)
65+ 100 (5.21%) 12 (3.50%) 15186 (17.86%) 14592 (38.47%)
Table 2. Length of Stay and ICU Admission.
Table 2. Length of Stay and ICU Admission.
Unhoused Housed
Men Women Men Women
Length of Stay
Average 10.07552 8.803661 6.758513 5.82089
Median 4 5 3 4
St Dev 18.24312 11.67325 10.91024 7.978379
Count 3019 601 150037 97281
Proportion
ICU Admission
Average 7.012774 7 6.587812 5.121019
Median 4 4 4 3
St Dev 11.15371 8.048649 8.27481 6.248527
Count 1096 188 51280 26252
Proportion 19.6 26.9
Table 3. Fracture Type Classification.
Table 3. Fracture Type Classification.
Unhoused Housed
Fracture Men Women Men Women
Fracture of nasal bones, initial encounter for closed fracture 1662 (86) 291 (84) 70290 (81) 32921 (81)
Fracture of tooth (traumatic), initial encounter for closed fracture 266 (14) 56 (16) 15989 (19) 7517 (19)
Fracture of orbital floor, initial encounter for closed fracture N/A N/A 40 (.05) 20 (.05)
Dislocation of jaw, initial encounter N/A N/A N/A 1
Table 4. Surgical Management.
Table 4. Surgical Management.
Surgical Management
Surgical (n%) Non-surgical (n%) P-value
unhoused 8 (0.4) 2012 (99.6) 0.083
Homed 854 (0.8) 112033 (99.2)
Table 5. Mechanism of Injury.
Table 5. Mechanism of Injury.
Unhoused Housed
Etiology Total, n (%) Men, n (%) Women, n (%) Total, n (%) Men, n (%) Women, n (%)
Assault by unarmed brawl or fight, initial encounter 547 (24) 469 (24) 77 (22) 13923 (11) 11277 (13) 0
Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with car, pick-up truck or van in traffic accident, initial encounter 476 (21) 368 (19) 105 (30) 8370 (7) 5188 (10) 0
Assault by blunt object, initial encounter 394 (17) 352 (18) 40 (11) 5712 (4) 4534 (5) 0
Fall on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling without subsequent striking against object, initial encounter 198 (9) 168 (9) 30 (9) 30629 (24) 11809 (14) 18446 (46)
Assault by unspecified means 147 (6) 133 (7) 14 (4) 0 0 0
Assault by other bodily force, initial encounter 131 (6) 99 (5) 32 (9) 3440 (3) 0 0
Unspecified fall, initial encounter 122 (5) 108 (6) 14 (4) 10612 (8) 4887 (6) 5558 (14)
Pedal cycle driver injured in collision with car, pick-up truck or van in traffic accident, initial encounter 114 (5) 99 (5) 14 (4) 0 0 0
Other fall on same level, initial encounter 86 (4) 73 (4) 0 10598 (8) 5058 (6) 5407 (13)
Assault by strike against or bumped into by another person, initial encounter 78 (3) 66 (3) 0 0 0 0
Fall on same level, unspecified, initial encounter 58 (3) 0 0 7737 (6) 0 4134 (10)
Exposure to other specified factors, initial encounter 55 (2) 0 0 0 0 0
Car driver injured in collision with fixed or stationary object in traffic accident, initial encounter 52 (2) 0 13 (4) 9185 (7) 6134 (7) 2956 (7)
Assault by unspecified sharp object, initial encounter 47 (2) 0 0 0 0 0
Assault by knife, initial encounter 46 (2) 0 0 0 0 0
Other specified events, undetermined intent, initial encounter 44 (2) 0 0 0 0 0
Motorcycle driver injured in collision with car, pick-up truck or van in traffic accident 42 (2) 0 0 4892 (4) 4524 (5) 0
Car driver injured in collision with other type car in traffic accident, initial encounter 40 (2) 0 0 9340 (7) 5662 (7) 3570 (9)
Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with car, pick-up truck or van in nontraffic accident, initial encounter 36 (2) 0 0 0 0 0
Other fall from one level to another, initial encounter 36 (2) 0 0 0 0 0
Fall (on) (from) other stairs and steps, initial encounter 0 0 0 8558 (7) 3869 (4) 4641 (11)
Fall on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling with subsequent striking against other object, initial encounter 0 0 0 7885 (6) 0 4564 (11)
Car passenger injured in collision with other type car in traffic accident, initial encounter 0 0 0 5116 (4) 0 2808 (7)
Fall from bed, initial encounter 0 0 0 4845 (4) 0 2904 (7)
Car driver injured in noncollision transport accident in traffic accident, initial encounter 0 0 0 4786 (4) 0 0
Motorcycle driver injured in noncollision transport accident in traffic accident 0 0 0 2901 (2) 0 0
Car passenger injured in collision with fixed or stationary object in traffic accident, initial encounter 0 0 0 2699 (2) 0 0
Fall on same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling with subsequent striking against unspecified object, initial encounter 0 0 0 2670 (2) 0 0
Assault by other bodily force, initial encounter n/a 99 (5) 0 0 0 0
Adult physical abuse, confirmed, initial encounter n/a 0 15 (4) 0 0 0
Table 6. Hospital Complications.
Table 6. Hospital Complications.
Unhoused Housed
Hospital Event Men, n (%) Women, n (%) Unknown, n (%) Men, n (%) Women, n (%) Unknown, n (%)
Acute Kidney Injury 119 (6.17) 9 (2.59) 1 (16.67) 7081 (8.20) 2972 (7.35) 54 (8.19)
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome 44 (2.28) 5 (1.44) 0 (0) 3060 (3.54) 937 (2.32) 18 (2.73)
Cardiac Arrest with CPR 170 (8.82) 26 (7.49) 2 (33.34) 12753 (14.77) 5106 (12.62) 102 (15.47)
Deep Surgical Site Infection 30 (1.56) 5 (1.44) 0 (0) 1424 (1.65) 469 (1.16) 11 (1.67)
Deep Vein Thrombosis 136 (7.05) 27 (7.78) 1 (16.67) 8340 (9.66) 3393 (8.39) 110 (16.7)
Myocardial Infarction 7 (0.36) 3 (0.89) 0 (0) 1456 (1.69) 1030 (2.55) 6 (0.91)
Organ/Space SSI 22 (1.14) 8 (2.31) 0 (0) 708 (0.82) 304 (0.75) 5 (0.76)
Pulmonary Embolism 68 (3.53) 9 (2.59) 1 (16.67) 4278 (4.96) 2128 (5.26) 42 (6.37)
Stroke/CVA 32 (1.66) 9 (2.59) 2 (33.34) 3186 (3.69) 2440 (6.03) 29 (4.4)
Unplanned Intubation 213 (11.05) 29 (8.36) 0 (0) 15103 (17.50) 6457 (15.96) 110 (16.7)
Osteomyelitis 6 (0.31) 2 (0.58) 0 (0) 348 (0.40) 89 (0.22) 3 (0.45)
Unplanned Admission to ICU 344 (17.84) 70 (20.17) 1 (16.67) 22644 (26.23) 14215 (35.13) 198 (30.04)
Severe Sepsis 73 (3.79) 12 (3.46) 0 (0) 4008 (4.64) 1747 (4.32) 21 (3.2)
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection 17 (0.88) 6 (1.73) 0 (0) 1175 (1.36) 1129 (2.79) 19 (2.9)
Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection 3 (0.16) 1 (0.29) 0 (0) 391 (0.45) 126 (0.31) 1 (0.15)
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia 96 (4.98) 16 (4.61) 1 (16.67) 5970 (6.92) 1409 (3.48) 31 (4.7)
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome 485 (25.16) 49 (14.12) 2 (33.34) 11134 (12.90) 2636 (6.52) 57 (8.65)
Pressure Ulcer 113 (5.86) 20 (5.76) 2 (33.34) 6545 (7.58) 3142 (7.77) 70 (10.6)
Superficial Incisional SSI 30 (1.56) 12 (3.46) 0 (0) 1175 (1.36) 483 (1.19) 7 (1.06)
Delirium 224 (11.62) 52 (14.99) 0 (0) 17958 (20.80) 13088 (32.35) 117 (17.8)
Unplanned Visit to OR 222 (11.51) 38 (10.95) 1 (16.67) 12114 (14.03) 4574 (11.31) 53 (8.04)
15 8 (0.41) 2 (0.58) 0 (0) 708 (0.82) 135 (0.33) 5 (0.76)
Table 7. Discharge Disposition.
Table 7. Discharge Disposition.
Unhoused Housed
Discharges Men, n (%) N/A, n (%) Women, n (%) Total Men, n (%) N/A, n (%) Women, n (%) Total
Discharged/Transferred to a short-term general hospital for inpatient care 10 (0.8) N/A 3 (0.2) 13 961 (74) 3 (0.2) 374 (29) 1338
Discharged/Transferred to an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) 3 (0.2) N/A N/A 3 126 (10) N/A 65 (5) 191
Discharged/Transferred to home under care of organized home health service 46 (4) 1 (0.1) 10 (0.8) 57 5112 (394) 29 (2) 4071 (314) 9212
Left against medical advice or discontinued care 200 (15) 1 (0.1) 34 (3) 235 2353 (181) 14 (1) 543 (42) 2910
Deceased/Expired 74 (6) N/A 5 (0.4) 79 3621 (279) 52 (4) 1185 (91) 4858
Discharged to home or self-care (routine discharge) 932 (72) 3 (0.2) 189 (15) 1124 44282 (3412) 332 (26) 18313 (1411) 62927
Discharged/Transferred to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) 153 (12) N/A 26 (2) 179 4116 (317) 49 (4) 4379 (337) 8544
Discharged/Transferred to hospice care 9 (1) N/A 1 (0.1) 10 564 (43) 2 (0.2) 462 (36) 1028
Discharged/Transferred to court/law enforcement 34 (3) N/A 2 (0.2) 36 1263 (97) 9 (0.7) 95 (7) 1367
Discharged/Transferred to inpatient rehab or designated unit 81 (6) N/A 15 (1) 96 6735 (519) 48 (4) 3574 (275) 10357
Discharged/Transferred to Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH) 21 (2) 1 (0.1) 5 (0.4) 27 1040 (80) 12 (0.9) 329 (25) 1381
Discharged/Transferred to a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric distinct part unit of a hospital 31 (2) N/A 9 (0.7) 40 556 (43) 5 (0.4) 157 (12) 718
Discharged/Transferred to another type of institution not defined elsewhere 56 (4) N/A 8 (0.6) 64 293 (23) 1 (0.1) 109 (8) 403
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.
Copyright: This open access article is published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, which permit the free download, distribution, and reuse, provided that the author and preprint are cited in any reuse.
Prerpints.org logo

Preprints.org is a free preprint server supported by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.

Subscribe

© 2026 MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) unless otherwise stated

Accessibility

Disclaimer

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Privacy Settings