Actual data on epidemiological evolution and prevention endeavours regarding traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is required both to prevent this disorder and to develop effective care and rehabilitation approaches for patients.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to find solutions to decrease the incidence of TBI and offer recommendations for their prevention.


METHODS
We analyzed epidemiological studies on TBI by performing a systematic review of literature, using information reported by different centers, collecting data on demographics, showing characteristics of TBI including incidence, identification of risk groups on differences in age, gender, geographical variation, severity and mortality.


RESULTS
Studies suggest that the incidence of TBI is between 18 and 250 per 100,000 persons per year. Men and people living in social and economical deprived areas, usually young adults and the elderly are high-risk groups for TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention remains the "key point" in medicine and especially for TBI, saving the patient from unnecessary often-harsh sufferance.


CONCLUSIONS
Most public epidemiological data showed that TBI is a major cause of mortality and disability. The effort to understand TBI and the available strategies to treat this lesion, in order to improve clinical outcomes after TBI, may be based on an increase in research on the epidemiology of TBI. A coordinated strategy to evaluate this public health problem in Romania would first of all rely on a related advanced monitoring system, to provide precise information about the epidemiology, clinical and paraclinical data, but concerning the social and economic connected consequences, too.


BACKGROUND
CNS = central nervous system, ED = emergency department, EU = European Union, FTE = Full Time Employees, GCS = Glasgow Coma Scale, TBI = traumatic brain injury, US = United States, WHO = World Health Organization.
Physical (neural-muscular) and Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic Division, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Teaching Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Popescu
Physical (neural-muscular) and Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic Division, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Teaching Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Anghelescu
Physical (neural-muscular) and Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic Division, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Teaching Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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C
Daia
Physical (neural-muscular) and Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic Division, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Teaching Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Onose
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
epidemiology; prevention; traumatic brain injury