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Abstract
Background: To investigate changes in TBI mortality in Austria during 1980–2012 and to identify causes for these changes.
Methods: Statistik Austria provided data (from death certificates) on all TBI deaths from January 1980–December 2012. Data included year/month of death, age, sex, residency of the cases and mechanism of accident. Data regarding the size of the age groups was obtained from Statistik Austria. Mortality rates (MR; deaths/105 population/year) were calculated for male vs. female patients and for different age groups. Changes in mechanisms of TBI were evaluated.
Results: The MR decreased from 28.1 to 11.8 deaths/105 population/year. Traffic-related TBI deaths decreased from 62% to 9%. This caused a significant decrease in TBI deaths in younger age groups. Fall-related TBI deaths (mostly geriatric cases) remained unchanged. Falls became the leading cause; its rate increased from 22% to 64% of all TBI deaths. Thus, the mean age of fatal TBI cases increased by 20 years and the rate of cases aged <60 years decreased from 71% to 28%. Another important cause was suicide by firearms; its rate increased from 10% to 23% of all TBI deaths.
Conclusions: These findings warrant better prevention of falls in the elderly and of suicides.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to the following experts: Dr Erika Baldaszti and Mag Barbara Leitner (both from Statistik Austria) who provided data on deaths (which included all deaths due to TBI). This work was supported by a grant from the Austrian Worker’s Compensation Board (AUVA; FK 09/13). The International Neurotrauma Research Organization (INRO) is supported by an annual grant from Mrs Ala Auersperg-Isham and Mr Ralph Isham and by small donations from various sources.