Journal Information
Original article
Available online 4 November 2025
Early identification of hypofibrinogenemia in major trauma: The usefulness of the FiT-6 (Fibrinogen in Trauma-6) score
Identificación precoz de hipofibrinogenemia en enfermedad traumática grave: la utilidad de la escala FiT-6 (Fibrinogen in Trauma-6 Score)
Ángela Ruiz-Bocosa, Gonzalo Sirgoa,b, Marc Cartanyàa, Sandra Canellesa, Silvia Urgelésa, Xavi Daniela, Natalia Murilloa, Julen Berruetac, Reyes Aguinacod, María Bodía,b,e, Alejandro Rodrígueza,b,e, Gerard Morenoa,
a Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain
b Universidad Rovira y Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain
c Servicio de Biotecnología, Hospital Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain
d Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain
e Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Spain
Received 06 May 2025. Accepted 15 July 2025
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Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the study population and comparison between survivors and deceased patients.
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Table 2. Clinical and laboratory test characteristics of the study population and comparison between survivors and deceased patients.
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Table 3. Comparison between patients with hypofibrinogenemia and those with normal fibrinogen levels.
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Table 4. Secondary results between the study groups.
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Abstract
Objective

To develop a clinical predictive score for hypofibrinogenemia in severely injured trauma patients.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Hospital Joan XXIII.

Patients

Consecutive patients admitted to the ICU for severe trauma with significant bleeding between 2015 and 2021 were included. Patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) < 16 were excluded.

Interventions

Data were analyzed from the ICUTRAUMA registry, designed to establish the epidemiological profile of critically ill trauma patients in the province of Tarragona. The association between admission fibrinogen levels and ICU mortality was assessed using Cox regression with restricted cubic splines. A logistic regression model was then constructed to predict hypofibrinogenemia (≤203 mg/dl), from which a clinical score was developed and internally validated, and subsequently named FiT-6.

Main variables of interest

Association between initial fibrinogen levels and ICU mortality.

Results

A non-linear relationship was observed between fibrinogen levels and ICU mortality. Fibrinogen levels ≤ 203 mg/dl were significantly associated with increased mortality (HR: 1.66; 95%CI: 1.01–2.72). Six independent predictors of hypofibrinogenemia were identified: ionic calcium < 1 mmol/l, hemoglobin < 10 g/dl, platelets < 100 × 109/l, base excess < –6, Shock Index > –0.9, and lactate > 2 mmol/l. The model demonstrated good diagnostic performance (AUC-ROC 0.90) after cross-validation.

Conclusions

The FiT-6 score shows high predictive ability for identifying hypofibrinogenemia, which is associated with increased ICU mortality.

Keywords:
Major trauma
Hypofibrinogenemia
Early score
Trauma induced coagulopathy
ICU mortality
Resumen
Objetivo

Desarrollar una escala clínica predictiva de hipofibrinogenemia en pacientes con trauma grave.

Diseño

Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo.

Ámbito

Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) del Hospital Joan XXIII.

Pacientes

Se incluyeron pacientes ingresados en UCI, de forma consecutiva, por traumatismo grave y con hemorragia significativa entre 2015 y 2021. Se excluyeron pacientes con un ISS < 16.

Intervenciones

Se analizaron los datos procedentes del registro ICUTRAUMA, diseñado para establecer el perfil epidemiológico de pacientes críticos traumáticos en la provincia de Tarragona. Se evaluó la relación entre los niveles de fibrinógeno al ingreso y la mortalidad en UCI mediante regresión de Cox con splines cúbicos restringidos. Posteriormente se construyó un modelo de regresión logística para predecir hipofibrinogenemia (≤203 mg/dl), a partir del cual se desarrolló y validó internamente una escala clínica que se denominó FiT-6.

Variables de interés principales

Asociación entre los niveles iniciales de fibrinógeno y la mortalidad en UCI.

Resultados

Se observó una relación no lineal entre los valores de fibrinógeno y la mortalidad en la UCI. A partir de niveles ≤ 203 mg/dl, la mortalidad aumentó significativamente (HR: 1,66; IC 95%: 1,01–2,72). Se identificaron seis predictoras independientes de hipofibrinogenemia: calcio iónico < 1 mmol/l, hemoglobina < 10 g/dl, plaquetas < 100 × 109/l, exceso de base < –6, índice de Shock > 0,9 y lactato > 2 mmol/l. El modelo mostró un buen rendimiento diagnóstico (AUROC: 0,90) tras validación cruzada.

Conclusiones

La escala FiT-6 presenta una alta capacidad predictiva para detectar hipofibrinogenemia, que se asocia a un incremento de la mortalidad en UCI.

Palabras clave:
Traumatismo grave
Hipofibrinogenemia
Escala
Coagulopatía inducida por trauma
Mortalidad UCI

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