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· motor vehicle accidents
· falls
· assaults
· sports injuries
Between 1989-1998, 53,288 annual deaths among U.S. residents were associated with TBI for a rate of 20.6/100,000 population3. These injuries have both short-term and long-term effects on individuals, their families, and society and their financial cost is enormous. According to one study, the annual economic burden in the U.S. was estimated at $56 billion in 2001.4
With approximately 5.3 million Americans who live with a TBI-related disability, the financial cost is only part of the burden. The long-term impairments and disabilities associated with TBI are grave and the full human cost is incalculable. Yet because these disabilities are not readily apparent to the public - unlike a broken arm, for example - TBI is referred to as the invisible epidemic. Individuals may suffer lifelong disabilities of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning, often permanently altering a person's vocational aspirations and having profound effects on social and family relationships.
During 1989-1998, TBI-related death rates had declined in all age groups except persons ³75 years old who experienced increased death rates and had the highest death rate of any age group. The highest incidence of TBI is among persons 15 to 24 years of age and people 75 years and older, with males experiencing 3 times higher TBI-related death rates as compared to females. Declines of 13% in males and 7% in females were seen during 1989-1998 period. TBI-related death rates were highest among American Indian/Alaska Natives at 27.2 deaths/100,000 population, however, this group experienced a 13% decrease during the period. Blacks experienced the 2nd highest TBI-related death rate at 25.0 deaths/100,00 population and whites averaged 20.1/100,000 population. The greatest decrease in TBI-related mortality occurred in blacks (20%), with whites experiencing a 10% decrease.
The three leading external causes of TBI-related deaths were motor-vehicle-related, fall-related, and firearm-related, accounting for 40%, 34%, and 10% respectively. The leading causes of TBI-related death differed among specific age groups: fatal motor-vehicle injuries were the leading cause of TBI-related deaths among children and youths aged 0-19 years (62%), fatal firearm-related injuries were the leading cause among adults aged 20-74 (52%), and fatal fall injuries were the leading cause among adults ³75 years (46%).
Our analysis will examine and compare the more recent trends in Riverside and San Bernardino county (RSBC) TBI mortality to available CDC data, more specifically, 1) trends of RSBC TBI-related deaths during 2001-2003 as a percent of specific ICD-9
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