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. 2017;31(5):620-623.
doi: 10.1080/02699052.2017.1283057. Epub 2017 Mar 22.

Lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury in a demographically diverse community sample

Jason Kisser  1 , Shari R Waldstein  1 , Michele K Evans  2 , Alan B Zonderman  3
Affiliations

Lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury in a demographically diverse community sample

Jason Kisser et al. Brain Inj. 2017.

Abstract

Background: Although incidence rates are well documented for traumatic brain injury, lifetime prevalence in a demographically diverse sample is unknown. We examined the prevalence of self-reported traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a demographically diverse sample.

Methods: History of TBI was examined in 2881 African-Americans and Whites in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study-a community-based, epidemiological investigation of urban-dwelling adults. Logistic regression analyses examined the odds of TBI as a function of sex, race, poverty status, age quintile and their interactions.

Results: A significant 3-way interaction was noted amongst race, poverty status and age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-2.31, p = 0.021). Amongst Whites living in poverty, younger (30-36 years of age) individuals had greater odds of TBI than older (58-64 years of age) individuals, whereas older African-Americans living in poverty had greater odds of TBI. Additionally, a main effect of sex (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.85-3.03, p < 0.001) indicated that men had greater odds of TBI.

Conclusions: History of TBI is most prevalent in men, older African-Americans in poverty, and younger Whites in poverty. Preventive measures targeting relevant TBI risk factors in these populations are warranted.

Keywords: Traumatic brain injury; age; demographics; prevalence; race: poverty; sex.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interaction graph of odds of history of head injury by age for Whites above and below the 125% poverty line.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interaction graph of odds of history of head injury by age for African-Americans above and below the 125% poverty line.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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