The Residential Status of Working Age Adults Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective: To describe place of residence and examine factors associated with place of residence following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in working age adults.Setting, participants, design: Retrospective cohort study (1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013) of adults (16–64 years) with severe TBI who survived to hospital discharge in Victoria, Australia.Main measures: Place of residence (dichotomised as ‘private residence’ and ‘other destination’) at 6, 12 and 24 months post injury. A modified Poisson model was fitted with a random effect for the participant.Results: There were 684 cases that were followed-up at one or more time points. At 24 months post injury, 87% (n = 537) adults with TBI were living at a private residence, of whom 66% did not require additional support. Cases were more likely to be living at a private residence at 24 months post injury compared to 6 months (adjusted relative risk = 1.08, 95% Confidence Interval, 1.04–1.11, p < .001). At 24 months post injury, 5% (n = 29) remained in rehabilitation and 4% (n = 23) lived in a nursing home.Conclusion: While the majority of cases were living at a private residence at 2 years post injury, 13% were residing in rehabilitation, a nursing home or other supported living. Longer follow-up is needed to understand if a transition to a private residence is possible for these groups.

Care patterns and predictors of community residence among older patients after hospital discharge for traumatic brain injury

“…A unique feature of this study is that we were able to follow longitudinally a population‐based sample of older adult patients with TBI over 20 weeks following hospitalization, as well as identify factors associated with community residence following discharge. Previous studies have either examined residential status at longer time points (e.g., 1‐, 2‐, or 5‐years following injury), focused on working adults, or following inpatient rehabilitation 37,50 . In addition, we were able to examine primary care utilization and comorbidities prior to the hospitalization, an analysis which was absent from the TBI literature.…”

“…Previous studies have either examined residential status at longer time points (e.g., 1-, 2-, or 5-years following injury), focused on working adults, or following inpatient rehabilitation. 37,50 In addition, we were able to examine primary care utilization and comorbidities prior to the hospitalization, an analysis which was absent from the TBI literature.…”