Incidence of emergency department presentations for traumatic brain injury in Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents aged 15–64 over the 9-year period 2007–2015 in North Queensland, Australia

Abstract

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Previous studies have shown that males have a higher incidence than females, and Indigenous populations have a higher rate than non-Indigenous. To date, no study has compared the incidence rate of TBI between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians for any cause. Here we add to this rather sparse literature.MethodsRetrospective analysis of data from North Queensland Emergency Departments between 2007 and 2015 using Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates for North Queensland residents aged 15–64 years as denominator data. Outcome measures include incidence rate ratios (IRR) for TBI presentations by Indigenous status, age, sex, year of presentation, remoteness, and socio-economic indicator.ResultsOverall incidence of TBI presentations per 100,000 population was 97.8. Indigenous people had an incidence of 166.4 compared to an incidence in the non-Indigenous population of 86.3, providing an IRR of 1.93 (95% CI 1.77–2.10; p < 0.001). Males were 2.29 (95% CI 2.12–2.48; p < 0.001) times more likely to present than females. Incidence increased with year of presentation only in the Indigenous male population.ConclusionsThe greater burden of ED presentations for TBI in the Indigenous compared with the non-Indigenous population is of concern. Importantly, the need to provide quality services and support to people living with TBI in remote and very remote areas, and the major role of the new National Disability Insurance Scheme is discussed.

Epidemiology of severe ocular trauma following the implementation of alcohol restrictions in Far North Queensland

“…Since the introduction of AMPs the overall rate of assault, serious injury and aeromedical retrieval from these communities has fallen significantly 9,23 . Nevertheless, several authors have recently reported the rates of assault, 10 traumatic brain injury 11 and aeromedical retrieval 10 are gradually rising towards pre‐2008 levels. The results of our study indicate there has been a significant decline in the incidence of ocular trauma in the Cape York and Torres Strait Island Indigenous communities since the implementation of AMPs, thus supporting this health policy as a preventative strategy.…”

“…While the rate of serious injury requiring aeromedical retrieval from FNQ Indigenous communities had fallen significantly until 2010, 9 robust conclusions regarding the sustained effectiveness of AMPs have been guarded. Rates of assault, 10 traumatic brain injury 11 and aeromedical retrieval 10 have been slowly rising since the reported nadir in 2010. This study aimed to review the epidemiology of ocular trauma admitted to Cairns Hospital from the FNQ health districts in the period following the implementation of AMPs in Indigenous Communities.…”

Indigenous traumatic brain injury research: responding to recruitment challenges in the hospital environment

“…Considering the hospital admission rates of TBI of Indigenous Australians [1, 2], the research team received a lower number of identified suitable patients during recruitment. The circumstances in which Indigenous Australians present to hospital for a TBI and the experiences they report while in hospital may have contributed to challenges in identifying them for the project.…”

“…Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability for Indigenous people living in colonised nations including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts [1–6]. Australia’s First Peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) people, have an incident rate of TBI that is at least twice as high as the non-Indigenous population (166.4 per 100,000 compared to 97.8 per 100,000) [1]. Indigenous Australians that sustain a TBI are more likely to be injured through an assault, to be female, to live remotely and to have comorbidities [2].…”

“…For Indigenous women, the rate of head injury due to assault was 69 times the rate experienced by non-Indigenous women [3]. In light of the high rates of head injury Indigenous Australians experience [1–3], there is a growing number of studies dedicated to understanding the experiences of Indigenous peoples who have sustained TBI to develop appropriate interventions to support them [7, 8].…”