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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern. Approximately one million people visit accident and emergency services each year following a head injury.
Approximately one million people visit accident and emergency services each year following a head injury.
TBI can lead for various health outcomes and have lasting lifelong effects. Previous work to quantify links between TBI and health outcomes has mainly focused on acute conditions rather than long term conditions and has not summarised outcomes across all health domains.
We conducted a synthesis of existing review evidence from more than 31 million participants to help quantify the overall disability burden from TBI in order to inform targets for clinical and policy interventions.
Summary of findings
- There were consistent findings for a number of adverse health conditions with higher subsequent risks following a TBI. These were dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Following a TBI of any severity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had a relative risk of 1.35 [95% CI 1.13, 1.61]. Indicating a 35% increase in risk compared to individuals without TBI. Dementia had a relative risk of 1.66 [95% CI 1.42, 1.93], indicating a 66% increase in risk following a TBI.
- In addition, violence perpetration was increased, with a relative risk of 1.62 [95% CI 1.12, 2.21], which is an important outcome to prevent for public health and safety, as TBI (especially mild TBI/concussion) is common.
- Compared with mild brain injuries, moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries were typically associated with an increased risk of diagnosed health conditions, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Notably, there is a lack of review evidence on adverse outcomes in survivors of intimate partner violence
The findings, now published in Nature Mental Health, suggest that longer term treatment is important after a TBI to prevent these outcomes.
Maya Ogonah is a DPhil student in the Department of Psychiatry