TBIs were linked to around a quarter of all injury-related deaths in the US in 2020. Such injuries result from a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, whether intentional or unintentional.
In the current study, researchers analyzed national health records of TBI-related mortality in the US during 2021. Altogether, there were 69, 473 TBI-related deaths in 2021, of which 54% were categorized as unintentional injuries, such as from motor vehicle crashes or unintentional falls, and 44% as intentional injuries, including suicides and homicides. Children aged 17 years and under accounted for approximately 4% of TBI-related deaths.
Analyses of the data revealed that men were over three times more likely to die with a TBI than women. It further found that TBI-related deaths were most common among older adults aged 75 years and above, and that unintentional falls were the most common cause in this group. Meanwhile, non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Native individuals experienced the highest rates of TBI-related death in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups.
"These findings highlight the importance of tailored prevention strategies to reach groups who may be at higher risk, and the role healthcare providers can play in reducing TBI-related deaths through early intervention and culturally sensitive care,” said lead study author, Alexis Peterson PhD. of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a press release.
"CDC has proven resources that healthcare providers can use to not only reduce health disparities that increase the risk for TBI but also improve care for anyone affected by a TBI," he added.
Sources: Science Daily, Brain Injury