The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative: Systematic Review of Clinical Factors Associated with Outcomes in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses a significant health challenge in Australia.
• Standardized data collection is crucial for improving patient outcomes and predictive modeling in TBI care.
• The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (AUS-TBI) aims to address these needs through a comprehensive data dictionary.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a clinical review to identify key factors for a data dictionary for moderate-severe TBI.
• To inform data collection strategies and facilitate outcome prediction for TBI patients across Australia.
• To synthesize evidence on clinical factors associated with TBI outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature searches were performed up to April 2022.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies with at least 100 moderate-severe TBI patients, evaluating clinical factors and outcomes.
• Data screening and consensus processes were employed to select relevant studies and factors.

Main Results:

• Searches yielded 313 relevant papers from 22,441 records.
• Predominant clinical outcomes were survival and disability.
• Glasgow Coma Scale, pupil reactivity, and blood pressure were the most frequently associated clinical predictors.

Conclusions:

• A review identified numerous studies on clinical factors and outcomes in moderate-severe TBI.
• Despite consistent reporting of some factors, assessment methods varied.
• Fifteen factors were recommended for the AUS-TBI data dictionary, informing evidence-based data collection.