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Children and youth with non-traumatic brain injury: a population based perspective
Vincy Chan1,2,3, Jason D Pole4,5, Michelle Keightley6,7
1Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada. vincy.chan@uhn.ca.
Insights
Pediatric non-traumatic brain injuries (nTBI) place a significant demand on healthcare services. Further research into nTBI subtypes is crucial for effective resource allocation and planning for affected children and youth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare utilization
- Neuroscience research
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Children and youth with non-traumatic brain injury (nTBI) are often underserved regarding post-injury health services.
- This study provides population-based data on the healthcare burden of pediatric nTBI, including subtypes.
- Data aims to inform future resource allocation and healthcare planning for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the burden of non-traumatic brain injury (nTBI) on healthcare services for children and youth.
- To analyze healthcare utilization by nTBI subtypes.
- To provide foundational data for improved healthcare planning and resource allocation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study design utilizing population-based healthcare data.
- Identification of pediatric nTBI cases using International Classification of Diseases Version 10 codes.
- Analysis of nTBI episodes of care, demographics, clinical characteristics, and discharge destinations by nTBI subtype.
Main Results:
- The rate of pediatric nTBI episodes of care was 82.3 per 100,000, with an average acute care stay of 13.4 days.
- 35% of pediatric nTBI patients required intensive care, 15% were transferred, and 6% died in acute care.
- Highest nTBI rates were observed for toxic effects of substances (22.7/100,000), brain tumors (18.4/100,000), and meningitis (15.4/100,000).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric non-traumatic brain injury (nTBI) significantly increases demand on the healthcare system.
- Active surveillance and in-depth research on nTBI, including subtypes, are essential.
- Targeted and timely care is needed for the pediatric population affected by nTBI.
Background:
Children and youth with non-traumatic brain injury (nTBI) are often overlooked in regard to the need for post-injury health services. This study provided population-based data on their burden on healthcare services, including data by subtypes of nTBI, to provide the foundation for future research to inform resource allocation and healthcare planning for this population.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study design was used. Children and youth with nTBI in population-based healthcare data were identified using International Classification of Diseases Version 10 codes. The rate of nTBI episodes of care, demographic and clinical characteristics, and discharge destinations from acute care and by type of nTBI were identified.
Results:
The rate of pediatric nTBI episodes of care was 82.3 per 100,000 (N = 17,977); the average stay in acute care was 13.4 days (SD = 25.6 days) and 35% were in intensive care units. Approximately 15% were transferred to another inpatient setting and 6% died in acute care. By subtypes of nTBI, the highest rates were among those with a diagnosis of toxic effect of substances (22.7 per 100,000), brain tumours (18.4 per 100,000), and meningitis (15.4 per 100,000). Clinical characteristics and discharge destinations from the acute care setting varied by subtype of nTBI; the proportion of patients that spent at least one day in intensive care units and the proportion discharged home ranged from 25.9% to 58.2% and from 50.6% to 76.4%, respectively.
Conclusions:
Children and youth with nTBI currently put an increased demand on the healthcare system. Active surveillance of and in-depth research on nTBI, including subtypes of nTBI, is needed to ensure that timely, appropriate, and targeted care is available for this pediatric population.
