Hospital admissions for traumatic brain injury of Austrian residents vs. of visitors to Austria.
BACKGROUND
The goal was to compare epidemiology of hospital admissions for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Austrian residents vs. visitors to Austria.


METHODS
Data on all hospital admissions due to TBI (ICD-10 codes S06.0-S06.9; years 2009-2011) was provided by the Austrian Statistical Office. Data on Austrian population and on tourism (visitor numbers, nights spent) was retrieved from www.statistik.at . Age, sex, mechanism of injury, season and mortality was analysed for Austrian residents vs. visitors.


RESULTS
Visitors contributed 3.9% to the total population and 9.2% of all TBI cases. Incidence of hospital admissions was 292/100,000/year in Austrian residents and was 727/100,000/year in visitors. Male:female ratio was 1.39:1 in Austrian residents and 1.55:1 in visitors. Austrian cases were older than visitors' cases (mean age 41 vs. 28 years). Austrian cases were distributed evenly over the seasons, while 75% of the visitors' cases happened during winter and spring. The most frequently observed causes of TBI in Austrian residents were private accidents, while sports caused almost half of the visitors' cases. Hospital mortality was lower in visitors than in Austrian residents (0.8 vs. 2.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Sports-related TBI of visitors causes a significant workload for Austrian hospitals. Better prevention is warranted.
Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Trauma Hospital 'Lorenz Boehler' , Vienna .
Walter
W
Mauritz
Alexandra
A
Brazinova
Marek
M
Majdan
Johannes
J
Leitgeb
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012865:Skiing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Age; outcome; sex; tourists; traumatic brain injury; winter sports