Trends in Head Injury Incidence in New Zealand: A Hospital-Based Study from 1997/1998 to 2003/2004

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and death in young adults. Globally, the incidence of TBI hospitalizations is estimated at 200–300 people per 100,000 annually. Using a national health database, we examined the incidence of TBI-related hospital discharges (including 1-day stays) to New Zealand Hospitals from 1997/1998 to 2003/2004. Crude annual hospital-based incidence rates for the total population ranged from 226.9 per 100,000 in 1998/1999 to a high rate of 349.2 in 2002/2003. There was a noticeable increase in rates with the change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 diagnostic codes and there was also disparity in incidence rates according to ethnicity, age and gender. Crude annual hospital-based incidence rates for males and females in Maori (689/100,000 and 302.8/100,000 person-years) and Pacific Island populations (582.6/100,000 and 217.6/100,000 person-years) were much higher than those for the remaining population (435.4/100,000 and 200.9/100,000 person-years), particularly for males. The overall age-standardized hospital- based incidence rate for 2003/2004 was 342 per 100,000 per year (95% CI = 337–349/100,000), and 458 per 100,000 per year for Maori (95% CI = 438–479/100,000) with Maori males experiencing a peak in incidence between 30 and 34 years of age that was not evidenced for the wider population. Standardized hospital-based incidence rates for the total population and for Maori by age, gender and ICD-10 diagnostic codes are also examined.

Head Injury Incidence and Mortality in New Zealand over 10 Years

“…The highest head injury incidence rates in the present review occurred among 0-4 year olds, 15-24 year olds and older adults; this is consistent with previous New Zealand research [5,13] and with findings from other countries indicating that older adults and young children are most affected by TBI [14,15,19,28], as are youths and young adults [14,20]. In studies limited to pediatric populations, 0-4 year olds typically have the highest TBI incidence rates [21,29] and death rates [21].…”

“…The overall head injury hospitalization incidence rate in the present review (118 per 100,000/year) is 2-3 times lower than that reported in a New Zealand study of head injury incidence from 1997/1998 to 2003/2004 (227-349 per 100,000), but these figures are not comparable as the previous study included day cases [5]. The population-based BIONIC study currently being conducted in New Zealand will be able to provide better estimates of the incidence of head injury across all levels of severity [13].…”

“…Previous New Zealand research published in this journal noted that the age-standardized incidence rates for head injury resulting in admission to hospital in New Zealand were 342 per 100,000 for the general population and 458 per 100,000 for Māori (New Zealand's indigenous population) [5]. We build on this foundation by examining the incidence of hospitalized and fatal head injuries with regard to mechanism of injury and socio-economic deprivation over the decade to 2009.…”

Caudate Nucleus Volumes in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Differential Atrophy in Subtypes

“…Clinical syndromes associated with ACC dysfunction are described as apathy and loss of motivation, including akinetic mutism, and are characterized by a lack of motivation. [35][36][37] Such clinical syndromes are seen in FTLD and may be due to atrophy in the relevant cortical regions as well as circuit dysfunction. [31][32][33] Differential volumetrics of the caudate in subtypes of FTLD may be based on the degree of involvement of the caudate in the neuropathophysiology of the subtype.…”

Pacific peoples three months after injury: a comparison of outcomes between Pacific and non‐Pacific participants in a NZ cohort study

“…4,6 Pacific peoples in NZ have a high incidence of head injury and spinal cord impairment (60% attributed to injury). 7,8 Pacific rugby players have been found to be at an increased risk of sustaining injuries compared to players of Māori descent. 9 Qualitative research focused upon injury among Pacific workers in the Manukau manufacturing industry identified high injury reporting rates.…”