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Published on: January 20, 2023
Older adults with acquired brain injury: a population based study
Vincy Chan1, Brandon Zagorski, Daria Parsons
1Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2A2, Canada. angela.colantonio@utoronto.ca.
BMC Geriatrics
|September 25, 2013
Summary
Hospitalized acquired brain injuries (ABI), including traumatic (TBI) and non-traumatic (nTBI), increased with age. Falls were the most common TBI cause, highlighting the need for prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Acquired brain injury (ABI), encompassing traumatic (TBI) and non-traumatic (nTBI), is a significant global cause of death and disability.
- Older adults (65+) are a vulnerable population experiencing increasing rates of ABI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine trends, characteristics, causes, and discharge destinations of hospitalized older adults with ABI in Ontario, Canada.
- To compare the profiles of patients with TBI versus nTBI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study using healthcare administrative databases (Discharge Abstract Database) from Ontario, Canada (2003-2010).
- Analysis of acute care admissions for individuals aged 65 and older, stratified into three age groups (65-74, 75-84, 85+).
Main Results:
- 14,518 TBI and 51,233 nTBI episodes were recorded. Hospitalized TBI and nTBI rates increased with age.
- Falls were the most common TBI cause; brain tumors were the most common nTBI. Longer acute care stays and delayed discharges increased with age.
- Discharge to long-term care rose with age, while home discharge decreased. In-hospital mortality also increased with age.
Conclusions:
- Acute care admissions for TBI and nTBI are rising among older adults.
- Findings support the critical need for falls prevention programs to mitigate cognitive disability and associated costs.
- The study underscores the growing burden of ABI in the aging population and its implications for healthcare systems.
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