Analysis of risk factors of nine deaths cansed by tetanus

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors of death caused by tetanus. Methods Clinical materials of 30 tetanus patients treated in Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from September 2009 to July 2020 were collected, and they were divided into death group(n=9)and survival group(n=21)according to prognosis. The clinical materials of the two groups were compared, and the risk factors of death in patients with tetanus were analyzed. Results Among the 30 patients with tetanus, there were 21 males and 9 females with an average age of(56.20±14.50)years old. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age, ratio of severe Ablett classification, ratio of mechanical ventilation, incubation period, score of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Scale Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)and incidence rate of complications between the death group and the survival group(P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, Ablett classification and incubation period were independent risk factors of death. The area under curve(AUC)of age combined with incubation period in predicting death of tetanus patients was 0.979(95% CI was 0.840 to 1.000, P<0.001), and the sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 100.0% respectively. Conclusion Although the incidence rate of tetanus has decreased, the mortality is still high, and we should pay more attention to the elderly patients in clinic. Combination of age and incubation period can effectively predict the prognosis of patients with tetanus.