Epidemiology of traumatic brain injury in the elderly over a 25 year period

Abstract

Objective: To identify the changes in the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a cohort of patients older than 65 years old admitted in the Intensive care unit of a third-level hospital over a 25 year period.

Material and methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted on patients over 65 years-old admitted with the diagnosis of TBI into an intensive care unit of a Spanish university hospital. The demographic, clinical variables were collected at the time of admission, including comorbidities, injury mechanisms, and injuries presented, and days of stay in ICU. A statistical analysis was carried out by five-year periods.

Results: A total of 446 TBI in patients over 65 years were included. In the analysis, an increase was observed in the proportion of patients presenting with epidural haematoma (1.39% in the period 1990-1995 vs. 9.46% in 2010-2015), with a significant linear tendency (P=.018). Falls from own height have increased from 8.33% (1991-1995) to currently more than 70% (2011-2015), P<.001. The percentage of traffic accidents declined from 26.39% to 3.95% in the last period, P<.001.

Conclusions: In the last 25 years there seems to be evidence of a change in the origins of TBI in the elderly in our field.

Keywords: Ancianos; Cuidados intensivos; Elderly; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Intensive care; Traumatic brain injury; Traumatismo craneoencefálico.