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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Fact Sheet
December 6, 2002
Contact: CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention & Control
(770) 4884902
The rate of traumatic brain injury (TBI) declined 11.4 percent between
1989 and 1998, yet TBI continued to cause an average 53,288 deaths
annually. This CDC surveillance summary reports the number of deaths from
TBI and identifies trends in deaths related to TBI from 1989 to 1998.
Public health and transportation safety officials should continue work to
develop injury-prevention programs that provide a multi disciplinary
approach to continuing to reduce these deaths. The public should also
become full partners in finding and using these solutions.
- The decline in TBI-related deaths maybe related to the decline in
all types of injury-related deaths, indicating that general injury
prevention measures may also influence TBIs. Injury prevention
strategies that have demonstrated success include primary enforcement
of seat belt and child safety seat laws, graduated licensing of new
drivers and community health education campaigns. Additionally,
evidence-based guidelines for acute and emergency management of TBI
were distributed during this period.
- Despite the overall decline, the TBI-related death rate for this
period was highest among people 75 years and older.
- The three leading causes of TBI death were related to firearms,
motor vehicles and falls. Firearm-related TBIs accounted for 40
percent of all TBI deaths, although firearm-related TBI death rates
declined by 14 percent in this period; 34 percent were related to
motor vehicles, and 10 percent to falls. The leading cause of death
differed by age group. Motor vehicles were the leading cause among
youth from birth to 19 years of age. Firearm-related TBIs were the
leading cause of death among persons aged 20 - 74 years. Fall-related
TBIs were the leading cause of death among persons aged 75 and older.
- Three times more males than females died from TBI-related causes.
However, the rate of death declined by 13 percent among males and 7
percent among females.
- TBI-related deaths were highest among American Indian/Alaska Natives
with motor-vehicle deaths being the leading cause. The greatest
decrease in TBI-related death was among African Americans (20
percent).
Notes to the editor: For the MMWR, please link to this website: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr. For more
information about injuries, visit the CDC's website at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc.
# # #
CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and
controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing
credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy
living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international
organizations. |
