Objectives: Pneumothorax is a critical condition frequently encountered in emergency departments (EDs), with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and traumatic pneumothorax (TP) presenting distinct clinical challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, clinical outcomes, and treatment strategies for SP and TP across different age groups and provide insights for optimizing emergency management protocols.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 2797 cases of pneumothorax over five years (2018–2023) at a tertiary care center. Patients were stratified by age (18–39, 40–64, and >65 years) and pneumothorax type (SP vs. TP). Data on demographics, clinical presentation, treatment, hospital stay, recurrence, and complications were extracted from medical records. Comparative statistical analyses were also conducted.
Results: The mean age of patients with SP was 32.5 ± 14.7 years, whereas patients with TP were older (37.8 ± 16.2 years,
p < 0.001). Male predominance was observed in both groups: 2085 (87.0%) in the SP group and 368 (92.0%) in the TP group (
p = 0.01). The right lung was more frequently affected in the SP (64.2%) and TP (56.0%) groups (
p < 0.001). Age-related differences were evident in both groups of patients. In the SP group, younger patients (18–39 years) represented the majority of cases, whereas older patients (≥65 years) were more likely to present with SSP and required more invasive management (
p < 0.01). In the TP group, younger patients often had pneumothorax due to high-energy trauma, whereas older individuals developed pneumothorax due to falls or iatrogenic causes (
p < 0.01). SP predominantly affected younger patients, with a history of smoking and male predominance associated with younger age (
p < 0.01). TP is more frequent in older patients, often because of falls or iatrogenic injuries. Management strategies varied by age group; younger patients were often managed conservatively, whereas older patients underwent more invasive procedures (
p < 0.01). Surgical intervention was more common in younger patients in the TP group, whereas conservative management was more frequent in elderly patients (
p < 0.01). The clinical outcomes differed significantly, with older patients having longer hospital stays and higher rates of persistent air leaks (
p < 0.01). Recurrence was more common in younger patients with SP, whereas TP recurrence rates were lower across all age groups (
p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in re-expansion pulmonary edema, empyema, or mortality rates between the age groups, suggesting that age alone was not an independent predictor of these complications when adjusted for pneumothorax severity and management strategy (
p = 0.22).
Conclusions: Age, pneumothorax subtype, and underlying pulmonary comorbidities were identified as key predictors of clinical outcomes. Advanced age, secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, and COPD were independently associated with recurrence, prolonged hospitalization, and in-hospital mortality, respectively. These findings highlight the need for risk-adapted management strategies to improve triaging and treatment decisions for spontaneous and traumatic pneumothorax.
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