Sex differences in mortality after traumatic brain injury, Colorado 1994-1998.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between sex and traumatic brain injury (TBI) mortality.


METHODS
A total of 20,465 persons with TBI were identified from a Colorado population-based surveillance system for 1994-1998. Case fatality ratios were calculated to identify sex differences for selected risk factors. Unconditional logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between TBI mortality and sex controlling for risk factors.


RESULTS
Adjusting for age, race, metropolitan residence and penetrating injury, the estimated odds of TBI mortality for males compared to females was 1.21 (95% CI 1.10, 1.34) for pre-hospital fatalities and 1.19 (95% CI 1.05, 1.37) for hospital fatalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate differences in TBI mortality comparing males and females. Future studies are warranted to identify if behaviour and physiological responses are associated with TBI outcomes among males and females.
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 80523-1676, USA. indiragujral0214@msn.com
Indira B
IB
Gujral
Lorann
L
Stallones
Barbara A
BA
Gabella
Thomas J
TJ
Keefe
Peter
P
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors