Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
Changing Epidemiology and Functional Outcomes of Inpatient Rehabilitation in Asian Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
Karen Sui Geok Chua1,2,3, Hui Xuan Kwan2, Wee Shen Teo1
1Institute of Rehabilitation Excellence (IREx), Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, Singapore 569766, Singapore.
Background:
This study aimed to compare acute injury and rehabilitation characteristics for traumatic brain injury (TBI) inpatients during the pre and post COVID-19 pandemic periods.
Methods:
A retrospective study of TBI inpatients between 1 April 2018 and 31 December 2019 (pre COVID-19 period), and 1 July 2020 and 31 March 2022 (post COVID-19 period) was performed to compare demographics, premorbid comorbidity, TBI characteristics, rehabilitation complications, admission and discharge functional independence measure (FIM®), length of stay and discharge status.
Results:
A total of 187 data sets were analyzed (82 pre COVID-19 and 105 post COVID-19). Post COVID-19 TBI inpatients were older by 11 years (pre COVID-19 mean 55 years vs. post COVID-19 mean 66 years, and p < 0.001), with 23% higher female inpatients (pre COVID-19 13.4% vs. post COVID-19 36.2%, and p < 0.001) and 25% higher presence of comorbidities (pre COVID-19 52.4% vs. post COVID-19 77.1%, and p < 0.001). In the post COVID-19 group, total discharge FIM (Td-FIM) was significantly lower by ~12 points (pre COVID-19 94.5 vs. post COVID-19 82, and p = 0.011), Td-FIM ≥ 91 was lower by ~18% (pre COVID-19 53.7% vs. post COVID-19 36.2%, and p = 0.017), and the need for caregivers increased by ~17% (pre COVID-19 68% vs. post COVID-19 85.4%, and p = 0.006) Conclusions: Our findings signal a demographic shift towards older, frailer TBI with lower functional independence levels post COVID-19.
