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).
*All information was gathered from the CDC TBI Data and Statistics reports, the CDC TBI Report to Congress and the Brain Injury Alliance of America Fact Sheet.
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.