Head Trauma with or without Mild Brain Injury Increases the Risk of Future Traumatic Death: A Controlled Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors have an elevated risk of premature mortality.
• Head injury (HI) is a common cause of TBI and other neurological impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate long-term mortality rates in individuals hospitalized for head injury (HI).
• To compare mortality risks between HI patients and a matched general population cohort over 15 years.

Main Methods:

• Population-based prospective case-control study with record linkage.
• Inclusion of 737 HI patients and 2196 matched controls from Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland.
• Analysis of death rates and causes of death over a 15-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Crude mortality rates were 56.9% for moderate-to-severe TBI, 18.6% for mild TBI, and 23.8% for HI without TBI.
• Annual mortality rates were approximately 6.7% (moderate-to-severe TBI), 1.4% (mild TBI), and 1.9% (HI without TBI).
• HI without TBI significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality (HR 2.00) and traumatic death (HR 4.01).

Conclusions:

• Even head injury without diagnosed TBI is associated with an increased risk of future traumatic death.
• The underlying reasons for this increased mortality risk remain unclear and warrant further investigation.
• Post-traumatic therapy should incorporate lifestyle factor assessments to mitigate premature death risks.