State-Level Numbers and Rates of Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths by Age, 2014.

OBJECTIVE

To provide state-level traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related emergency department (ED) visit, hospitalization, and death estimates by age group for 2014.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Core Violence and Injury Prevention Program and State Injury Indicators-participating states.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

MAIN MEASURES

Number and population-based incidence rates of TBI-related ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths by age group-children and young adults (0-24 years), adults (25-64 years), and older adults (≥65 years)-in 36 states.

RESULTS

South Dakota had the lowest rates of TBI-related ED visits for all age groups-children and young adults: 566.2 (95% CI: 539.2-593.3) per 100 000; adults: 269.2 (95% CI: 253.0-285.4) per 100 000; and older adults: 324.3 (95% CI: 293.4-355.2) per 100 000. Rhode Island had the lowest rate of TBI-related hospitalizations for children and young adults-25.9 (95% CI: 20.7-32.0) per 100 000. The lowest rate of TBI-related hospitalizations among adults and older adults was in Virginia-39.6 (95% CI: 37.7-41.4) per 100 000-and Ohio-129.3 (95% CI: 124.0-134.6) per 100 000-respectively. Maryland had the lowest rate of TBI-related deaths for children and young adults-3.1 (95% CI: 2.3-3.9) per 100 000. Rhode Island had the lowest rate of TBI-related deaths for adults-7.2 (95% CI: 5.2-9.8) per 100 000-and New Jersey had the lowest rate of TBI-related deaths for older adults-29.4 (95% CI: 26.5-32.4) per 100 000.

CONCLUSION

This analysis demonstrated that there are variations in TBI-related ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths by age. State public health professionals may use these findings to develop state-based strategies to address TBI.