Life expectancy after inpatient rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury in the United States

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal

Accession No.:

J73519

Journal:

Journal of Neurotrauma

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2015 , 32, 23, 1893-1901

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study examined the characteristics associated with the risk of death among individuals requiring inpatient rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) National Database (NDB) was weighted to represent those 16 years of age or older completing inpatient rehabilitation for TBI in the United States (US) between 2001 and 2010. Analyses included Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs), Cox regression, and life expectancy. The US mortality rates by age, sex, race, and cause of death for 2005 and 2010 were used for comparison purposes. The results indicated that a total of 1,325 deaths occurred in the weighted cohort of 6,913 individuals. Those with TBI were 2.23 times more likely to die than individuals of comparable age, sex, and race in the general population, with a reduced average life expectancy of 9 years. Independent risk factors for death were: older age, male gender, less-than-high-school education, previously married at injury, not employed at injury, more recent year of injury, fall-related TBI, not discharged home after rehabilitation, less functional independence, and greater disability. Individuals with TBI were at greatest risk of death from seizures; accidental poisonings; sepsis; aspiration pneumonia; respiratory, mental/behavioral, or nervous system conditions; and other external causes of injury and poisoning, compared with individuals in the general population of similar age, gender, and race. This study confirms prior life expectancy study findings, and provides evidence that the TBIMS NDB is representative of the larger population of adults receiving inpatient rehabilitation for TBI in the US.

Author(s):

Harrison-Felix, Cynthia, Pretz, Christopher, Hammond, Flora M., Cuthbert, Jeffrey P., Bell, Jeneita, Corrigan, John, Miller, A. Cate, Haarbauer-Krupa, Juliet