Traumatic brain injury hospitalizations in the geriatric population: Pennsylvania 2000-2010

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health problem in older adults, accounting for > 60,000 hospitalizations.

Purpose: Describe TBI hospitalizations in the elderly in Pennsylvania.

Methods: Data came from Pennsylvania acute care hospital discharge data from 2000-2010. Persons aged 65 years and older who were hospitalized with TBI were included; those who died before admission, were treated and released from emergency departments, or treated at rehabilitation hospitals were not included. Variables analyzed

Results: During 2000-2010, there was a 52.8% increase in the number of TBI hospitalizations among individuals aged 65 years and older. Among the 71,585 TBI discharges in Pennsylvania, 56.8% occurred among females and 88% among whites. The overall fatality rate was 9 %. Although this age group makes up only 36.8% of the total TBI hospitalizations, it represents 61.2% of all TBI related inpatient deaths. Hospitalizations were most common in the 75-84 year age group (42.7%). The most common injury mechanism was falls (81.5%), followed by motor vehicle related (11.4%). Males had a significantly higher rate of TBI hospitalizations compared to females (382.7 per 100,000 versus 297.3 per 100,000, p<0.05). The rates for whites was also significantly higher compared to blacks (314.3 per 100,000 versus 249.5 per 100,000, p <.05)

Conclusions: These findings suggest there are differences in ages, gender, and racial disparities among those hospitalized in Pennsylvania with TBI. Preventive measures, especially in the area of falls, should focus on those at highest risk of TBI.