Trends in Hospitalization Associated with TBI in an Urban Level 1 Trauma Centre

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the single largest cause of death and disability following injury worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic, clinical, medical and accident related trends for patients with TBI hospitalized in an urban Level 1 Trauma Centre. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected on individuals (n = 5,642) who were admitted to the Traumatic Brain Injury Program of the McGill University Health Centre - Montreal General Hospital from 2000 to 2011. Results: Regression analysis showed a significant upward trend in the yearly number of cases as well as an upward trending by year in the proportion of TBI cases aged 70-years-old or more. The Injury Severity Scale scores were positively associated with year indicating a slight increase in injury severity over the years and there was an increase in patient psychological, social and medical premorbid complexity. In addition, the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score tended to become more severe over the years. There was a slight decrease in the proportion of discharges home and in the proportion of deaths. Conclusions: These results will help to understand the impact of TBI in an urban Canadian Level 1 Trauma Centre. This information should be used to develop public prevention strategies and to educate the community about the risk of TBI especially the risk of falls in the ageing population. These findings can also provide information to help health policy makers plan for future resources.