Epidemiology of traumatic brain injury: a population based study in western Sweden.
BACKGROUND
This study on traumatic brain injury (TBI) is based on prospective and retrospective population based data from a head injury register in Borås.


METHODS
Data was collected from the hospital emergency unit, the discharge register, the regional neurosurgical clinic and the coroner's records during 1 year. This district is mixed urban and rural with a population of 138 000.


RESULTS
The 753 cases identified represent an incidence of 546 per 100 000 which includes deaths (0.7%), hospital admissions (67%) and attendance at the emergency department in patients not admitted (32%). Males (644 per 100 000), had 1.46 higher overall rate than females (442 per 100 000). The external causes were dominated by fall from same level (31%) and fall from different level (27%) followed by traffic accidents (16%) and persons hit by objects (15%).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of TBI found in this study is high but well in accordance with earlier published Swedish studies.
Andersson
E H
EH
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Central Hospital Borås, SE 501 82 Borås, Sweden. elisabeth.Andersson@vgregion.se
Björklund
R
R
Emanuelson
I
I
Stålhammar
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology