Long-term mortality trends in patients with traumatic brain injury.
Comparison of long-term mortality rates between patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the general population has not been adequately investigated. This project aimed to obtain information on the long-term mortality rate of patients with TBI. Using a rehabilitation database of a major teaching hospital, the search identified 476 patients, of whom 27 were deceased. This mortality rate (5.7%) was compared with the expected mortality rate for an equivalent population without TBI (1.5%) using Australian Life Table data. It was found that patients with TBI had a significantly higher mortality rate than the general population (chi2 = 12.2, p < 0.001). Possible reasons for this finding are discussed.
Baguley
I
I
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia. ianb@biru.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Slewa-Younan
S
S
Lazarus
R
R
Green
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D011159:Population Surveillance