Seasonal patterns of traumatic brain injury deaths due to traffic-related incidents in the Slovak Republic

Jang

2022

J Korean Neurosurg Soc

Objective : COVID-19 has spread worldwide since the first case was reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Our institution is a regional trauma and emergency center in the northern Gyeonggi Province. The changing trend of patient care in the emergency room of this hospital likely reflects the overall trend of patients in the area. In the present study, whether changes in the surrounding social environment following the outbreak of COVID-19 changed the incidence of neurosurgical emergency patients and whether differences in practice existed were investigated. Methods : The overall trend was analyzed from January 2020 which is before the outbreak of COVID-19 to September 2020. To remove bias due to seasonal variation, the previous 2 year's records during the same period were reviewed and compared. Confirmed COVID-19 patients in the northern Gyeonggi Province were identified using data released by the government. And patients who came to the emergency department with head trauma and stroke were identified. Results : Based on the present study results, the total number of neurosurgery emergency patients decreased over the study period. In the trauma patient group, the number of patients not involved in traffic accidents significantly decreased compared with patients involved in traffic accidents. Among the stroke cases, the rate of ischemic stroke was lower than hemorrhagic stroke, although a statistically significant difference was not observed. Meanwhile, an increase in the risk of mortality associated with trauma or stroke cases was not observed during the COVID-19 outbreak compared with the same time period in the previous year. Conclusion :Due to the occurrence of COVID-19, non-essential activities have decreased and trauma cases not associated with traffic accidents appeared to decrease. Due to the decrease in overall activity, the number of stroke patients has also decreased. This trend is expected to continue even in the post-COVID-19 era, and accordingly, the results from the present study are relevant especially if the current situation continues.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak and Changes in Neurosurgical Emergency Patients

Jang

2022

J Korean Neurosurg Soc

“…Studies have independently reported seasonal, weather, and temporal variations in traffic accident-related injuries, with reports of higher incidences of accidents during summer, on days with precipitation, on particular days of the week, and at specific times of the year [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. This is the first study from Saudi Arabia on the seasonal variation in RTA-related THI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secular Trend, Seasonal Variation, Epidemiological Pattern, and Outcome of Traumatic Head Injuries Due to Road Traffic Accidents in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Al-Gahtany

2021

IJERPH

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a leading cause of traumatic head injury (THI) and are regarded as a public health problem in Saudi Arabia. This hospital-based retrospective study aims to provide data on the frequency, type, and distribution of RTA-related THIs over the past decade; demonstrate their time trend and seasonality; and decipher age and sex differences in RTA-related THIs and their outcome. The results showed a decline in the number of RTA-related THIs between 2010 and 2019. The patients had a mean age of 26.16 ± 16.27 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 10.8:1. Head injury with multiple lesions was the most common diagnosis, followed by cerebral contusion and skull fracture (32.1%, 12.9%, and 11.2%, respectively). Subdural hematoma (SDH) and skull fracture were significantly more common in patients aged ≥60 years (standard residual > 1.96), and significantly less common in those aged ≤17 years (standard residual < 1.96), compared to other age groups. Males experienced significantly more SDHs than females (standard residual = −2.8, p = 0.029). The length of hospital stay was positively correlated with age (Spearman’s rho = 0.057, p = 0.046). No seasonal variation was found.

“…Injury mechanisms seem to affect the seasonality of TBI incidence. In a Slovakian study investigating traffic-related fatal TBIs, pedestrians sustained more fatal TBIs during winter months, while cyclists and motorcyclists experienced more fatal TBIs in spring and summer [15]. The findings of the present study warrant more research, and the seasonal nature of injury mechanisms should be studied in nationwide settings in Finland.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

High-Risk Periods for Adult Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

et al. 2021

Introduction: There is minimal existing available information on nationwide seasonal peaks in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). This lack of information is an impediment to the effective development of prevention programs, societal policies, and hinders the resourcing of medical emergency services. Our current aim is to study nationwide population-based high-risk periods TBI over a 15-year study period in Finland. Methods: Nationwide databases were searched for all admissions with a TBI diagnosis and later for deaths of persons ≥16 years of age during 2004–2018. The search included all hospitals that provide acute TBI care in Finland. Results: The study period included 69,231 TBI-related hospital admissions (men = 62%). We found that for men, the highest rate of TBIs occurred on Saturdays, whereas women experience the highest rate of TBIs on Mondays. The highest rate of TBIs in men occurred in July, while women experienced the highest rate of TBIs in January. TBI-related hospital admissions (incidence risk ratio [IRR] 1.090, 95% CI 1.07–1.11, p < 0.0001) and mortality within 30 days after TBI (hazard ratio [HR] 1.057, 95% CI 1.001–1.116, p = 0.0455) were more common on public holidays and weekends than on weekdays. There was an increasing trend in the proportion of TBI-related hospital admissions occurring on public holidays and weekends from 2004 (31.5%) to 2018 (33.4%) (p = 0.0007). In summer months, TBI-related hospital admissions (IRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.08–1.12, p < 0.0001) and 30-day mortality (HR 1.069, 95% CI 1.010–1.131, p = 0.0211) were more common than in other months. TBIs occurred more often in younger and healthier individuals on these index days and times. In terms of specific public holidays, the TBI risk was overall higher on New Year’s Eves and Days (IRR 1.40, 95% CI 1.25–1.58, p < 0.0001) and Midsummer’s Eves and Days (IRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.20–1.54, p < 0.0001), compared to nonworking days. This finding was significant in both genders. Conclusions: TBI-related hospital admissions and mortality were more common on public holidays, weekends, and in summer months in Finland. People who sustained TBIs on these days were on average younger and healthier. The occurrence of TBIs on public holidays and weekends is increasing at an alarming rate.