Researchers from Osaka University use machine learning to identify trauma patients more likely to survive with tranexamic acid treatment

Researchers from Osaka University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the treatment of traumatic injury using machine learning. Their study, published in Critical Care, identifies subgroups of trauma patients who are more likely to survive if treated with tranexamic acid, a drug that stops excessive bleeding by reducing the body’s ability to break down blood clots.

With approximately 4.5 million people worldwide dying from traumatic injury each year, finding effective treatments is crucial. Tranexamic acid can be life-saving, but it can also cause unnecessary side effects in patients who do not need it. By using machine learning to categorize trauma patients into different subgroups based on shared traits, the researchers were able to determine which patients would benefit most from tranexamic acid treatment.

Lead author Jotaro Tachino explains, “We identified eight different trauma phenotypes and evaluated the benefits of tranexamic acid treatment based on these phenotypes. We found subgroups of patients with significantly lower in-hospital mortality when they received tranexamic acid, as well as subgroups who received no benefit from treatment.”

By analyzing data from over 50,000 patients in the Japan Trauma Data Bank, the researchers were able to identify an association between trauma phenotypes and in-hospital mortality, indicating that tranexamic acid treatment could potentially influence this relationship. This research paves the way for more personalized care for trauma patients and could ultimately improve survival rates for those affected by traumatic injury.

The study, titled “Association between tranexamic acid administration and mortality based on the trauma phenotype: a retrospective analysis of a nationwide trauma registry in Japan,” is a significant step towards optimizing tranexamic acid use in trauma patients. The findings offer hope for patients and their families, as strategies that improve survival in traumatic injury cases are essential.