Changes in Mortality Related to Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Seychelles from 1989 to 2018

Anne Abio,Masood Ali Shaikh,Till Bärnighausen,Bernard Valentin,Jussi P Posti,Pascal Bovet,Michael Lowery Wilson

doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.720434

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a significant source of disability and mortality, which disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. The Republic of Seychelles is a country in the African region that has experienced rapid socio-economic development and one in which all deaths and the age distribution of the population have been enumerated for the past few decades. The aim of this study was to investigate TBI-related mortality changes in the Republic of Seychelles during 1989–2018.Methods: All TBI-related deaths were ascertained using the national Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System. Age- and sex-standardised mortality rates (per 100,000 person-years) were standardised to the age distribution of the World Health Organisation standard population.Results: The 30-year age-standardised TBI-related mortality rates were 22.6 (95% CI 19.9, 25.2) in males and 4.0 (95% CI 2.9, 5.1) in females. Road traffic collisions were the leading contributor to TBI-related mortality [10.0 (95% CI 8.2, 11.8) in males and 2.7 (95% CI 1.8, 3.6) in females, P > 0.05]. TBI-related mortality was most frequent at age 20–39 years in males (8.0) and at age 0–19 in females (1.4). Comparing 2004–2018 vs. 1989–2003, the age-standardised mortality rates changed in males/females by −20%/−11% (all cause mortality), −24%/+39.4% (TBIs) and +1%/+34.8% (road traffic injury-related TBI).Conclusion: TBI-related mortality rates were much higher in males but decreased over time. Road traffic collisions were the single greatest contributor to TBI mortality, emphasising the importance of road safety measures.

Highlights

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a significant source of disability and mortality, which disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries
The aim of this study was to estimate the changes in Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)-related mortality in the Republic of Seychelles, where the population and cause-specific deaths have been enumerated for several decades and data were available for the period between 1989 and 2018
The TBI-related mortality was highest at the age group 20–39 years in males (39.7%) and at age group 0–19 years (34.0%) in females

Summary

Introduction

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a significant source of disability and mortality, which disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to investigate TBI-related mortality changes in the Republic of Seychelles during 1989–2018. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide [1,2,3]. It is estimated that approximately 27–69.0 million out of 7.3 billion people are diagnosed with TBIs annually, with an incidence of 351–939 cases per 100,000 population [8, 9]. An earlier study from 2007 found the global annual incidence at 106 cases per 100,000 population [10]. Persons who have been diagnosed with a TBI are often affected by long-term disabilities including cognitive and physical impairments, behavioural changes, impaired attention and psychological problems such as depression [1, 4, 11]

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