Challenges associated with post-deployment screening for mild traumatic brain injury in military personnel.

There is ongoing debate regarding the epidemiology of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in military personnel. Accurate and timely estimates of the incidence of brain injury and the prevalence of long-term problems associated with brain injuries among active duty service members and veterans are essential for (a) operational planning, and (b) to allocate sufficient resources for rehabilitation and ongoing services and supports. The purpose of this article is to discuss challenges associated with post-deployment screening for MTBI.

Prevalence of long-term disability from traumatic brain injury in the civilian population of the United States, 2005.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of long-term disability associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the civilian population of the United States.

Methods: We first estimated how many people experienced long-term disability from TBI each year in the past 70 years. Then, accounting for the increased mortality among TBI survivors, we estimated their life expectancy and calculated how many were expected to be alive in 2005.

"Help seniors live better, longer: prevent brain injury": an overview of CDC's education initiative to prevent fall-related TBI among older adults.

Background: Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among older adults aged 75 and older. Despite this burden, many older adults, their caregivers, and professionals are not aware of the importance of TBI as an outcome of falls among older adults.

Methods: To address this important public health problem, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the "Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury" initiative to help raise awareness about methods to prevent, recognize and respond to fall-related TBIs among older adults aged 75 and older.

Incidence of long-term disability following traumatic brain injury hospitalization, United States, 2003.

Objective: Develop and validate a predictive model of the incidence of long-term disability following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and obtain national estimates for the United States in 2003. DATA/METHODS: A logistic regression model was built, using a population-based sample of persons with TBI from the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Follow-up Registry. The regression coefficients were applied to the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample data to estimate the incidence of long-term disability following traumatic brain injury hospitalization.

Improving identification of traumatic brain injury after nonmilitary bomb blasts.

Objective: To improve identification of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in survivors of nonmilitary bomb blasts during the acute care phase.

Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a meeting of experts in TBI, emergency medicine, and disaster response to review the recent literature and make recommendations.

Results: Seven key recommendations were proposed: (1) increase TBI awareness among medical professionals; (2) encourage use of standard definitions and consistent terminology; (3) improve screening methods for TBI in the acute care setting; (4) clarify the distinction between TBI and acute stress disorder; (5) encourage routine screening of hospitalized trauma patients for TBI; (6) improve identification of nonhospitalized TBI patients; and (7) integrate the appropriate level of TBI identification into all-hazards mass casualty preparedness.

Violence, abuse, and neglect among people with traumatic brain injuries.

Background: Violence, abuse, and neglect (VAN) among people with physical and other disabilities has been reported; however, little is known about VAN experiences among people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Methods: Nine people who reported experiencing VAN post-TBI were interviewed for this phenomenological study. The data were analyzed to understand VAN as experienced by those with TBI.

Employment after traumatic brain injury: differences between men and women.

Objective: To determine whether there are sex differences in employment 1 year after traumatic brain injury.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Acute care hospitals in South Carolina and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) rehabilitation centers.

Traumatic brain injuries after mass-casualty incidents: lessons from the 11 September 2001 World Trade Center attacks.

Introduction: The 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries. Research on previous bombings and explosions has shown that head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), are among the most common injuries.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify diagnosed and undiagnosed (undetected) TBIs among persons hospitalized in New York City following the 11 September 2001 WTC attacks.

Incidence of traumatic brain injury in the United States, 2003.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health problem in the United States. In 2003, there were an estimated 1,565,000 TBIs in the United States: 1,224,000 emergency department visits, 290,000 hospitalizations, and 51,000 deaths. Findings were similar to those from previous years in which rates of TBI were highest for young children (aged 0-4) and men, and the leading causes of TBI were falls and motor vehicle traffic.

A population-based outcomes study of persons hospitalized with traumatic brain injury: operations of the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Follow-up Registry.

Objective: To describe the design and operations of the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Follow-up Registry.

Design: Statewide prospective cohort study.

Setting: State of South Carolina.

The epidemiology and impact of traumatic brain injury: a brief overview.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health problem in the United States and worldwide. The estimated 5.3 million Americans living with TBI-related disability face numerous challenges in their efforts to return to a full and productive life.

Self-reported psychosocial health among adults with traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To measure the subjective psychosocial health of a population-based sample of adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Retrospective, cohort study involving a 1-year postinjury interview.

Setting: Sixty-two acute care, nonfederal hospitals in South Carolina.

Linking people with traumatic brain injury to services: successes and challenges in Colorado.

People with traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related disability often need services and other types of support to return to productive lives; thus, improving access to available TBI services is a priority for a variety of states' agencies, such as Human Services and Public Health. Although infrastructure and resources vary from state to state, each can benefit by learning about how other states link people with TBI to services. In this report, we summarize Colorado's experience in exploring and developing better ways to link state residents with TBI to services.

Risk of posthospitalization mortality among persons with traumatic brain injury, South Carolina 1999-2001.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) negatively impacts long-term survival. However, little is known about the likelihood of death within the first year following hospital discharge. This study examined mortality among a representative sample of 3679 persons within 1 year of being discharged from any of 62 acute care hospitals in South Carolina following TBI and identified the factors associated with early death using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.

The incidence of traumatic brain injury among children in the United States: differences by race.

Objective: This report summarizes the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits by race among children aged 0-14 years in the United States. Few other studies have reported the incidence of TBI in this population by race.

Methods: Data from 3 nationally representative sources maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics were used to report the annual numbers and rates of TBI-related deaths, hospitalizations, and ED visits during 1995-2001 by race, age, and external cause of injury.

Traumatic brain injury hospitalizations among American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Objectives: To compare the incidence of nonfatal traumatic brain injury (TBI) hospitalization among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) with that of other race groups and to assess alcohol and protective equipment (PE) use among those who sustained TBI related to a motor vehicle (MV) incident.

Methods: Data were obtained from 13 states funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct TBI surveillance from 1997 to 1999. Rates by race and by cause were calculated for the 13 states combined.

Tracking the silent epidemic and educating the public: CDC's traumatic brain injury-associated activities under the TBI Act of 1996 and the Children's Health Act of 2000.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996 and the Children's Health Act of 2000 authorized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct several activities associated with traumatic brain injury. This article describes how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention responded to the legislation in 2 key areas: traumatic brain injury surveillance, and education and awareness.

The public health approach to traumatic brain injury: an overview of CDC's research and programs.

Every year, 50,000 people die with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). At least 5.3 million Americans live with long-term disabilities related to TBI.

Disability among adults injured in motor-vehicle crashes in the United States.

Introduction: Little population-based information exists about the long-term effects of motor-vehicle crash-related injuries.

Method: We analyzed data from the 1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability (NHIS-D) Supplement to estimate the prevalence of crash-related disability among noninstitutionalized U.S.

Traumatic brain injury-related hospital discharges. Results from a 14-state surveillance system, 1997.

Problem/condition: Previous studies indicate that each year in the United States, approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Of those injured, approximately one quarter million are hospitalized.

Fatal crashes among older drivers: decomposition of rates into contributing factors.

This study selected US drivers aged 55 years or older who were involved in fatal crashes in 1990 and 1995 and explored factors that influenced their fatal crash involvement rate. The fatal crash involvement rate (risk of being involved in a fatal crash) can be thought of as the product of the crash fatality rate (risk of dying given a crash), the crash incidence density (risk of crash), and the exposure prevalence (amount of driving). Fatal crash involvement rates increased with age.