Risk of Hydrocephalus after Head Trauma: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea
Youngoh Bae1, Sung Ho Park2, Hohyun Jung3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam, 13487, Republic of Korea.
Background:
This study assessed the long-term risk of acquired hydrocephalus in individuals with head trauma to identify time-specific risk patterns and to evaluate high-risk subgroups using a nationwide cohort in South Korea.
Methods:
Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service cohort (2005-2013) were analyzed. The study included 53,567 patients with head trauma and 535,668 matched controls. This study analyzed the incidence of hydrocephalus in patients with head trauma, and time-stratified Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for hydrocephalus across 9 years, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates.
Results:
The incidence of hydrocephalus was significantly higher in the head trauma group than in the control group (incidence rate ratio, 3.92). Male patients and those aged ≥60 years exhibited the highest risk. The risk of hydrocephalus was highest within the first 3 years after trauma and decreased gradually thereafter. Furthermore, smokers and ex-smokers were at a higher risk than nonsmokers.
Conclusions:
Patients with head trauma are at a significantly higher risk of posttraumatic hydrocephalus, particularly within the first 3 years. These findings highlight the need for early monitoring and intervention. Further research is required to improve our understanding of hydrocephalus risk.
