Litigation

Brain Injury Statistics for New York State

By Michael Kaplen

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)  continues to be a significant public health problem in New York State.  Here are the latest statistics on traumatic brain injury in New York State compiled by the NYS Department of Health, Bureau of Injury Prevention.

Annually in New York State, traumatic brain injury results in more than 2,100 deaths, 18,500 hospitalizations, and 82,000 ED visits among residents, a rate of 11.0 deaths, 96.2 hospitalizations, and 425.4 ED visits per 100,000 residents.

Hospitalization charges for TBIs average $37,839 and ED charges average $1,909 per stay, totaling more than $860 million in annual charges.

Males are 2.7 times more likely to die, 1.7 times more likely to be hospitalized, and 1.3 times more likely to need treatment at an ED due to a TBI. The highest rate of TBI deaths occurs among adults aged 65 years and older, at 30.5 per 100,000 residents in this age group.

The incidence rate for older New Yorkers is three times greater than for any other age group. Among hospitalized residents, the highest rate of TBIs are to children under one year of age and to adults 65 years and older, at 179.7 and 266.3 per 100,000 residents, respectively.

The two highest rates of TBI-related ED visits are to children less than one and between one and four years old, at 1,447.0 and 973.6 per 100,000 residents.

In motor vehicle crashes, unrestrained vehicle occupants were three times more likely to sustain a TBI than vehicle occupants that buckled-up. Alcohol and speed-related crashes were associated with the highest risk of a TBI.

You can contact the Department of Health Bureau of Injury Prevention for customized data reports (including TBI data) for your county by clicking here or by telephoning   (518) 473-1143.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on March 11, 2011 (boomark / email).