The CDC traumatic brain injury surveillance system: characteristics of persons aged 65 years and older hospitalized with a TBI.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of older persons (ie, those aged 65-74, 75-84, and > or = 85 years) hospitalized with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Data from the 1999 CDC 15-state TBI surveillance system were analyzed.


RESULTS
In 1999, there were 17,657 persons 65 years and older hospitalized with TBI in the 15 states for an age-adjusted rate of 155.9 per 100,000 population. Rates among persons aged 65 years or older increased with age and were higher for males. Most TBIs resulted from fall- or motor vehicle (MV)-traffic-related incidents. Most older persons with TBI had an initial TBI severity of mild (73.4%); however, the proportions of both moderate and severe disability for those discharged alive and of in-hospital mortality were relatively high (23.5%, 9.7%, and 12%, respectively). Persons who fell were also more likely to have had 3 or more comorbid conditions than were those who sustained a TBI from an MV-traffic incident.


CONCLUSIONS
TBI is a substantial public health problem among older persons. As the population of older persons continues to increase in the United States, the need to design and implement proven and cost-effective prevention measures that focus on the leading causes of TBI (unintentional falls and MV-traffic incidents) becomes more urgent.
Coronado
Victor G
VG
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. VGC1@cdc.gov
Thomas
Karen E
KE
Sattin
Richard W
RW
Johnson
Renee L
RL
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020198:Intracranial Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology