Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury by Severity Among Work-Related Injured Workers From 2010 to 2019: An Analysis of Workers' Compensation Insurance Data in Korea

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the status of work-related traumatic brain injury (wrTBI) in Korea between 2010 and 2019.

Methods: This study used Korea Workers' Compensation Insurance data, and the sample comprised workers who claimed compensation for wrTBI from 2010 to 2019. The annual incidence of wrTBI was calculated as the rate per 100,000 workers. Time trends over the 10-year period were assessed using Poisson regression.

Results: The mean incidence of wrTBI was 28.4/100,000. Regarding the incidence rate of wrTBI by severity, mild TBI and moderate-to-severe TBI were 12.9/100,000 and 15.5/100,000, respectively. The incidence of mild TBI among workers was higher in 2010, but moderate-to-severe TBI was higher after 2011.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for providing information on mild TBI to workers as part of occupational safety and health education.