title: Mortality among older adults after a traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine mortality rates among older adults (≥60 years) post-traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using multiple databases, a literature search was conducted for articles on mortality after TBI published up to July 2011. Information on patient characteristics (age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), injury aetiology, etc.), mortality rates, time to death and study design was extracted and pooled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four studies had an overall mortality rate of 38.3% (CI 27.1-50.9%). The odds of mortality for those over 75 years compared to those of 65-74 years was 1.734 (CI = 1.311-2.292; p < 0.0001). Pooled mortality rates for mild (GCS 13-15), moderate (GCS 9-12) and severe (GCS 3-8) head injuries were 12.3% (CI = 6.1-23.3%), 34.3% (CI = 19.5-53.0%) and 65.3% (CI = 53.1-75.9), respectively. Odds ratios comparing severe to mild and moderate to mild head injuries were 12.69 (CI = 5.29-30.45; p < 0.0001) and 5.31 (CI = 3.41-8.29; p < 0.0001), respectively. There was no significant difference in the odds of death between severe and moderate injuries (p = 0.116).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These mortality rates associated with moderate and severe injuries may be attributed to complications, chronic disease prevalence, conservative management techniques or the consequences of biological ageing.
authors.affiliation: Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Parkwood Hospital, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: JoAnne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aubut
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dijkers
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Teasell
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome