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Published on: January 20, 2023
Head and traumatic brain injuries among Australian children, July 2000-June 2006
Jesia G Berry1, Lisa M Jamieson, James E Harrison
1Research Centre for Injury Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Insights
Hospitalisation rates for head and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in Australian children reveal that younger children, boys, and those in remote areas face higher risks. TBI accounts for nearly a quarter of all head injuries in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Public Health Surveillance
- Injury Epidemiology
Background:
- Head and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in children.
- Understanding the epidemiology of these injuries is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
- Previous research has highlighted variations in injury rates based on age, sex, and geographic location.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of hospitalisation for head injuries and TBI in Australian children aged 0-14 years.
- To identify demographic and geographic risk factors associated with these hospitalisations.
- To quantify the proportion of head injuries attributable to TBI.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive analysis was conducted using the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Hospital Morbidity Database.
- Data spanned from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2006.
- Multivariate analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors.
Main Results:
- The overall head injury hospitalisation rate was 395.9 per 100,000 children.
- Younger children (0-4 years) and boys exhibited higher rates of head injury.
- Children residing in remote areas had significantly increased rates of both head injury and TBI hospitalisation.
- The TBI hospitalisation rate was 91.1 per 100,000 children, with 34.7 per 100,000 experiencing high-threat-to-life injuries.
- Boys had a higher incidence of TBI compared to girls.
Conclusions:
- Children living in remote areas are disproportionately affected by head injuries.
- Traumatic brain injury constitutes a substantial proportion, nearly a quarter, of all head injuries requiring hospitalisation in children.
- These findings underscore the need for focused injury prevention efforts in vulnerable child populations, particularly those in remote settings.
Objective:
To describe the rates of hospitalisation for head and traumatic brain injury among Australian children aged 0-14 years.
Design:
Descriptive analysis of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Hospital Morbidity Database, using data for the period 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2006.
Results:
The rate of hospitalisation for head injury was 395.9 per 100,000 (95% CI 393.4 to 398.4), with 47.6 per 100,000 (95% CI 46.7 to 48.5) being high-threat-to-life injuries. In multivariate analysis, those aged 0-4 years had 1.8 times the rate of head injury of 10-14-year-olds, while boys had 1.7 times the rate of girls. Children living in very remote and remote areas had a 1.3-1.5-fold greater rate of head injury, and a 1.6-1.8-fold greater rate of injuries that were high threat to life, than city-dwelling children. The rate of traumatic brain injury (TBI) was 91.1 per 100,000 (95% CI 89.9 to 92.3), with 34.7 per 100,000 (95% CI 33.9 to 35.4) being high-threat-to-life injuries. In multivariate analysis, children aged 0-4 years had 0.8 times the rate of 10-14-year-olds, and boys had 1.9 times the rate of girls. Children living in the very remote and remote areas had a 1.9-2.8-fold greater rate of TBI, and a 1.5-1.7-fold greater rate of injuries that were high threat to life, than city-dwelling children.
Conclusions:
Children living remotely were disproportionately represented among those sustaining head injuries. Almost a quarter of head injuries were TBI.
