Abstract
Pediatric traumatic brain injuries represent a public health concern globally. Epidemiological studies are essential to understand their extent, uncover risk factors and outcome predictors, and establish efficient prevention policies. Etiological investigations also benefit from epidemiological data. In young, pre-linguistic children, distinguishing between accidental and non-accidental trauma is often challenging for frontline clinicians. Classification errors can have severe repercussions for children and their families. Past influential epidemiological studies have drawn general conclusions about the etiology of pediatric traumatic brain injuries based on specific statistical information, such as hospital patient fatality rates after reported accidental falls. In this article, we use simple mathematical models to revisit one of these studies and discuss the reliability of its conclusion. We show that apparent paradoxical discrepancies, such as hospital patient fatality rates that are higher after short versus long falls, may have mathematical justification and do not necessarily justify seeking alternative etiological explanations such as non-accidental trauma.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.