Statistics

Statistics

Every 9 seconds, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury

Vermont Statistics

The Facts

  • Population of Vermont: 623,000 (2018)
  • 9,000 Vermonters are currently living with a TBI
  • 4,530 Emergency Room/Hospitalizations related to brain injury in 2014
  • Falls are the number one cause of disability and death
  • In every age group, TBI rates are higher for males than for females

TBI Mortality*

 

U.S. Statistics

The Facts

  • Every 9 Seconds, someone in the U.S. sustains a brain injury
  • Every day, 137 people die in the United States because of a TBI-related injury
  • More than 3.5 million children and adults sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI) each year, but the total incidence is unknown
  • 2.5 million adults & children sustain a TBI per year
  • 2.2 million TBI-related Emergency Department visits per year
  • 288,000 per year are hospitalized due to TBI
  • 50,000 per year die with TBI
  • 5.3 million Americans live with a TBI related disability.
  • One of every 60 people in the U.S. lives with a TBI- related disability
  • Children aged 0 to 4 years, older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older are most likely to sustain a TBI
  • The number of people who sustain TBIs and do not seek treatment is unknown

TBI Data and Statistics

TBI-related Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths (EDHDs)

 

  • In 2014, there were approximately 2.87 million TBI-EDHDs in the United States, including over 837,000 occurring among children. This includes:
  • Approximately 2.53 million TBI-related ED visits, including over 812,00 occurring among children.
  • Approximately 288,000 TBI-related hospitalizations, including over 23,000 occurring among children.
  • 56,800 TBI-related deaths, including 2,529 occurring among children.
  • The number of total TBI-EDHDs increased by 53% from 2006 (N approximately 1.88 million) to 2014 (N approximately 2.88 million).

TBI-related Emergency Department (ED) Visits

  • In 2014, there were approximately 2.5 million TBI-related ED visits in the U.S., including over 812,000 among children.
  • Unintentional falls, being unintentionally struck by or against an object, and motor vehicle crashes were the most common mechanisms of injury contributing to a TBI diagnosis in the ED. These three principal mechanisms of injury accounted for 47.9%, 17.1%, and 13.2%, respectively, of all TBI-related ED visits.
  • Rates of TBI-related ED visits per 100,000 population were highest among older adults aged ≥ 75 years (1,682.0), young children aged 0-4 years (1,618.6), and individuals 15-24 years (1,010.1).

TBI-related Hospitalizations

  • In 2014, there were approximately 288,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in the U.S., including over 23,000 among children.
  • Unintentional falls and motor vehicle crashes were the most common mechanisms of injury contributing to a TBI diagnosis in which the patient was hospitalized. These two principal mechanisms of injury accounted for 52.3% and 20.4%, respectively, of all TBI-related hospitalizations.
  • Rates of TBI-related hospitalizations per 100,000 population were highest among older adults aged ≥75 years (470.6), those aged 65-74 years (145.5), and individuals 55-64 years (89.5).

TBI-related Deaths

  • In 2014, there were 56,800 TBI-related deaths in the US, including 2,529 deaths among children.
  • Intentional self-harm, unintentional falls, and motor vehicle crashes were the most common mechanisms of injury contributing to a TBI-related death. These three principal mechanisms of injury accounted for 32.5%, 28.1%, 18.7%, of all TBI-related deaths.
  • Rates of TBI-related deaths per 100,000 population were highest among older adults aged ≥75 years (78.5), those aged 65-74 years (24.7), and individuals 55-64 years (19.1).












Primary Cause of TBI Death

  • 35% were due to firearms
  • 31% were due to falls
  • 24% were due to motor vehicle traffic crashes
  • 10% were made up of a variety of causes, each less than 2%, including drowning, machinery and being struck

TBI Mortality Intent

  • 62% of TBI-related deaths were unintentional
  • 38% were intentional (34% suicide, and 3% homicide)
  • 1% was of undetermined intent
  • About 50% of deaths in all age groups are unintentional, the exception being those 65+ where nearly 80% are unintentional
  • Additionally, among those <1-14, 30% of TBI related deaths are the result of suicides

 

Sex & Age

  • 73% of TBI-related deaths were among men
  • 27% among women
  • As age increases so does the likelihood of dying from a TBI related cause
  • The highest percentage of TBI-related deaths were among those over the age of 65 (41%) and the lowest were among those under 15 years of age (2%)

TBI Mortality by Description

  • 35% of TBI-related deaths were due to an open wound of the head
  • 27% were due to intracranial injury
  • 21% resulted from unspecified injuries of the head (unspecified injuries of the face, ear or nose and injuries classifiable to more than one of the other descriptions)
  • 15% were due to fracture of skull and facial bones

 


TBI Morbidity*

Primary Cause of TBI Morbidity

  • 96% TBI hospitalizations and ED visits also have an injury listed
  • 54% were due to falls
  • 22% were due to being struck by/against
  • 12% were due to motor vehicle traffic accidents
  • 12% were related to some other type of injury

TBI Morbidity Intent

  • 94% of TBI-related Hospitalizations and ED Visits were unintentional
  • Six percent were intentional (<1% self-harm, and 6% assault)

 

Sex & Age

  • 52% of TBI-related hospitalizations and ED visits were among men
  • 48% among women
  • TBI-related hospitalizations and ED visits were highest among those under age 15 (24%)
  • The proportion decreases significantly through age 64, before increasing among those 65 and older (19%)

TBI Morbidity by Description

  • 58% TBI-related hospitalizations and ED visits were due to unspecified injuries of the head
  • 38% were due to intracranial injuries, including concussion, contusion, laceration and hemorrhage
  • Less than five percent were due to fractures of skull (3%), other/unqualified multiple fractures of the skull (1%), shaken baby syndrome (<1%), and injuries to the optic nerve and pathways (<1%)

 


Trend

The rate of TBI related deaths among Vermont residents at Vermont hospitals increased significantly from 544.0 per 100,000 people in 2005 to 788.3 per 100,000 people in 2014.

 *These statistics were found by the Vermont Department of Health Report.

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