Lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury in a demographically diverse community sample.
BACKGROUND
Although incidence rates are well documented for traumatic brain injury, lifetime prevalence in a demographically diverse sample is unknown. We examined the prevalence of self-reported traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a demographically diverse sample.


METHODS
History of TBI was examined in 2881 African-Americans and Whites in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study-a community-based, epidemiological investigation of urban-dwelling adults. Logistic regression analyses examined the odds of TBI as a function of sex, race, poverty status, age quintile and their interactions.


RESULTS
A significant 3-way interaction was noted amongst race, poverty status and age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-2.31, p = 0.021). Amongst Whites living in poverty, younger (30-36 years of age) individuals had greater odds of TBI than older (58-64 years of age) individuals, whereas older African-Americans living in poverty had greater odds of TBI. Additionally, a main effect of sex (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.85-3.03, p < 0.001) indicated that men had greater odds of TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
History of TBI is most prevalent in men, older African-Americans in poverty, and younger Whites in poverty. Preventive measures targeting relevant TBI risk factors in these populations are warranted.
a Department of Psychology , University of Maryland Baltimore County , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Jason
J
Kisser
a Department of Psychology , University of Maryland Baltimore County , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Shari R
SR
Waldstein
b Health Disparities Research Section, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences , National Institute on Aging , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Michele K
MK
Evans
c Behavioral Epidemiology Section, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences , National Institute on Aging , Baltimore , MD , USA.
Alan B
AB
Zonderman
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
Traumatic brain injury; age; demographics; prevalence; race: poverty; sex