Gender Discrepancy in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Study from a Level 1 Trauma Center

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the gender discrepancy in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of Qatar Trauma Registry (QTR) was conducted among patients (age ≥14y) who were hospitalized with TBI. Data were collected and analyzed based on the gender and age.

Results: Over 5 years (2014-2019), 9, 309 trauma patients (90% males and 10% females) were admitted to the trauma center. Of these, 1, 620 (17.4%) patients were hospitalized with TBI (94% males and 6% females). Motor vehicle crash was the main mechanism of injury (MOI) in females, and fall from height was predominant among males. Subdural hematoma (SDH) was the more frequent type of TBI in both genders, but it was more prevalent in male patients ≥55 years. Injury severity score, Glasgow coma scale, and head abbreviated injury score were comparable between males and females. The length of stay in the ICU and hospital and mortality were similar in both genders. However, mortality was higher among males ≥55 years when compared to 14-54 years within the same gender (21% vs. 12%, p = 0.002). The crude and adjusted odds ratio did not show that gender is a significant predictor of mortality among TBI patients.

Conclusions: Although the incidence and MOI of TBI show significant differences between male and female patients, the severity and outcomes are comparable.