Abstract
BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Previous studies have shown that males have a higher incidence than females, and Indigenous populations have a higher rate than non-Indigenous. To date, no study has compared the incidence rate of TBI between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians for any cause. Here we add to this rather sparse literature.MethodsRetrospective analysis of data from North Queensland Emergency Departments between 2007 and 2015 using Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates for North Queensland residents aged 15–64 years as denominator data. Outcome measures include incidence rate ratios (IRR) for TBI presentations by Indigenous status, age, sex, year of presentation, remoteness, and socio-economic indicator.ResultsOverall incidence of TBI presentations per 100,000 population was 97.8. Indigenous people had an incidence of 166.4 compared to an incidence in the non-Indigenous population of 86.3, providing an IRR of 1.93 (95% CI 1.77–2.10; p < 0.001). Males were 2.29 (95% CI 2.12–2.48; p < 0.001) times more likely to present than females. Incidence increased with year of presentation only in the Indigenous male population.ConclusionsThe greater burden of ED presentations for TBI in the Indigenous compared with the non-Indigenous population is of concern. Importantly, the need to provide quality services and support to people living with TBI in remote and very remote areas, and the major role of the new National Disability Insurance Scheme is discussed.
Highlights
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability worldwide
Indigenous people were nearly twice as likely (IRR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.77–2.10, p < 0.001) to present with TBI than non-Indigenous people, and this result remained statistically significant after adjusting for age and sex (IRR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.56–1.85, p < 0.001)
Indigenous people were twice as likely to present to an emergency departments (ED) for TBI than non-Indigenous people, males were at higher risk than females and those living in socio-economically deprived areas were at higher risk than those living in wealthier areas
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Previous studies have shown that males have a higher incidence than females, and Indigenous populations have a higher rate than nonIndigenous. No study has compared the incidence rate of TBI between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians for any cause. In Australia in 2008, injuries accounted for 9.3 per 1000 population of disability adjusted life years (Begg et al 2008). Head injury is a common cause of ED presentations. Serious head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI) can profoundly affect quality of life and lead to permanent impairment and disability (Jamieson et al 2008). TBI is a leading cause of disability in Australia (Helps et al 2008). The (2018) 5:40 incidence proportion in males was significantly greater than in females (Nguyen et al 2016)
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