title: Age-related trends in intracranial injury outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age is an important prognostic indicator of outcomes following traumatic brain injuries. This study examines how outcomes for traumatic brain injuries in the acute care setting have changed during a recent 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-level data broken down by age group was obtained from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Web site for the years 2000 to 2009. Linear regression was used to determine trends in age-specific discharge volume, mortality rate, discharge disposition, and cost. Population and cost estimates were adjusted using census data and consumer price index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that discharges for intracranial injuries have been increasing, with the most marked increase in the population older than 65 years, which cannot be accounted for by population age distribution changes. There were overall improvements in outcomes including decreased in-hospital mortality rates for all age groups and increased home discharges for those 18 to 44 years and older than 85 years. This came at an average annual cost increase of $1,071 dollars per patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute care outcomes for intracranial injuries have been improving at a cost of $1,071 per patient per year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Economic and decision analysis, level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. pbgerrard@partners.org
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerrard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult