ABSTRACT
Background: Although incidence rates are well documented for traumatic brain injury, lifetime prevalence in a demographically diverse sample is unknown. We examined the prevalence of self-reported traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a demographically diverse sample.
Methods: History of TBI was examined in 2881 African-Americans and Whites in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study—a community-based, epidemiological investigation of urban-dwelling adults. Logistic regression analyses examined the odds of TBI as a function of sex, race, poverty status, age quintile and their interactions.
Results: A significant 3-way interaction was noted amongst race, poverty status and age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.31, p = 0.021). Amongst Whites living in poverty, younger (30–36 years of age) individuals had greater odds of TBI than older (58–64 years of age) individuals, whereas older African-Americans living in poverty had greater odds of TBI. Additionally, a main effect of sex (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.85–3.03, p < 0.001) indicated that men had greater odds of TBI.
Conclusions: History of TBI is most prevalent in men, older African-Americans in poverty, and younger Whites in poverty. Preventive measures targeting relevant TBI risk factors in these populations are warranted.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interests. The National Institute on Aging’s Intramural Research Program and National Institutes of Health Grant 1RO1AG034161 supported this research.