Data
Of all types of injury, those to the brain are among the most likely to result in death or permanent disability. Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
Gathering accurate data about acquired brain injury is problematic for the following reasons:
- Statistics are often based upon the presenting diagnosis at A&E. Often the foremost diagnosis is recorded, therefore if a patient presents with a broken leg the additional head injury may not be taken into account.
- Where data is accurate generally only traumatic injuries are recorded leaving out the injuries caused by problems such as infection ie not all categories of acquired brain injury.
- Primary Care Trusts differ in their classification systems regarding acquired brain injury
- There is a lack of joined up care in the NHS, therefore as a patient moves through the system information is often lost or mis-recorded.
UKABIF is working with organisations across the UK to improve data collation. Accurate figures are fundamental to our ability to press for better services and therefore this is a priority for UKABIF.
*Please note that most of the figures below apply to traumatic brain injury rather that the much larger category of acquired brain injury.
The Figures
Professor Alan Tennant of Leeds University carried out the most recent study in 2005 which includes all patients admitted to hospital in England with head injury during years 2001-2 and 2002-3.
Prevalence
The studies again show a wide variation in the figures between 60,000 from the Department of Health and 910,000 from the most recent study.
Incidence
British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine (1988) Incidence is around 300 per 100,000 per annum.
McLellan (1998) Head injuries requiring hospitalisation occur in the UK at the rate of about 275/100,000 population annually.
Causes
- Road Traffic Accidents account for 50% of all traumatic brain injuries. This includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians hit by vehicles.
- The leading causes of traumatic brain injuries vary by age: falls are the leading cause among persons aged 65 years and older; transportation is the leading cause among persons under the age of 65 years.
Consequences
Brain Injury can cause many kinds of physical, cognitive, and behavioural/emotional impairments as shown below. They may be either temporary or permanent. Impairments may range from subtle to severe. Brain injury may result in seizure disorders.
Costs
The costs to the state of acquired brain injury are difficult to estimate due to the problems with the accuracy of the figures. In addition to the costs of treatment and care, the loss of earnings of patients and carers has to be taken into account. An approximation of figures is given below:
