Mild traumatic brain injury epidemiology in USA
In 2019 anonymized data from the OptumHealthcare Solutions claims database (2006-2016). The index date was the first date with an mTBI diagnosis. health-care resource utilization (HRU) and costs (2016 USD) were assessed in the 12-month post-index period.
A total of 80,004 patients with mTBI were included: 60% were under 26 years and 54% were male. Mild TBI was most frequently diagnosed in an emergency department (ED) for all age groups, except patients aged 11-17 years, for whom the outpatient setting was the most frequent place of diagnosis. Almost half (47%) received brain imaging on the index date, with 98% of which receiving computed tomography. Mean follow-up health-care costs were $13,564 (SD = $41,071), primarily from inpatient ($4,675, SD = $29,982) and non-ED outpatient/physician office visits ($4,207, SD = $12,697). Older patients had greater HRU and higher health-care costs.
The findings of this claims-based study show substantial HRU and costs associated with mTBI diagnosis during a 12-month follow-up period 1).
Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is estimated to occur in 3.8 million each year in the US.
The peak ages for these injuries are in adolescence and young adulthood, and sports related concussions are particularly common among young persons 2).
It accounts for 80% of all craniocerebral injuries 3).