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PHOM Indicator Profile Report of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Why Is This Important?

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in Utah, costing more than $179 million in hospitalization charges in 2021. During 2021, the age-adjusted rate of Utahns hospitalized due to a TBI was 7.5 per 10,000. Based on sampled 2016-2017 TBI cases, more than half (52.8%) of TBI hospitalizations and deaths are the result of a fall. Motor vehicle traffic crashes (13.4%) are the second leading cause of TBI hospitalizations and deaths in Utah.

TBI hospitalization age-adjusted rates by sex, Utah, 2016-2021

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Between 2016 and 2021, TBI hospitalization rates have remained fairly consistent. Male age-adjusted rates are higher than female age-adjusted rates for all years.

Data Sources

  • Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
  • Population Estimates for 2000-2019: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022

Data Notes

ICD-10-CM codes for TBI Morbidity: S02.0, S02.1, S02.8, S02.91, S04.02, S04.03, S04.04, S06, S07.1, T74.4; ICD-10 codes for TBI Mortality: S01.0-S01.9, S02.0, S02.1, S02.3, S02.7-S02.9, S04.0, S06.0-S06.9, S07.0, S07.1, S07.8, S07.9, S09.7-S09.9, T01.0, T02.0, T04.0, T06.0, T90.1, T90.2, T90.4, T90.5, T90.8, T90.0. These cases may include a TBI alone or in combination with other injuries or conditions.   [[br]] [[br]] Rates have been age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population.

Risk Factors

TBIs are most commonly caused by a fall, firearm-related injury, motor vehicle crash, or an assault. Falls are responsible for nearly half of TBI-related hospitalizations. Firearm-related suicide is the most common cause of TBI-related deaths in the United States. TBIs affect the lives of people of all ages. Anyone can experience a TBI, but data suggest that some groups are at greater risk of dying from a TBI or experiencing long-term health problems after the injury. Examples of groups who are more likely to be affected by TBI, include: older adults, racial and ethnic minorities, service members and veterans, people who experience homelessness, people who are in correctional and detention facilities, survivors of intimate partner violence, and people living in rural areas.

How Are We Doing?

The age-adjusted death rate of TBI in Utah in 2022 was 22.2 per 100,000 population. This rate was the same as the previous year's rate. From 2018 to 2022, age-adjusted rates of TBI for both sexes have not changed significantly. In 2022, rates of TBI deaths were greater for males compared to females (35.0 to 10.1). The age-adjusted hospitalization rate of TBI in Utah in 2021 was 7.54 per 10,000 population. This rate was higher than the previous year's rate of 7.4 per 10,000 population, but not significantly so. From 2018 to 2021, age-adjusted rates of TBI for both sexes have not changed significantly. In 2021, rates of TBI hospitalizations were greater for males compared to females (9.6 to 5.5).

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) receives funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct TBI surveillance for the state of Utah. This is done through review of hospital discharge data, vital statistics data, and hospital records abstractions. These data are used to develop interventions and policies targeting those at highest risk (such as young people for motor vehicle incidents and the elderly for fall incidents). In 2018 VIPP was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Administration of Community Living (ACL). The purpose of the three year grant is to create and strengthen a system of services and supports that maximizes the independence, well-being, and health of persons with TBI across the lifespan, their families, and their caregivers by: 1) supporting and maintaining the Utah Brain Injury Council (TBI Advisory Board), 2) creating a TBI State Registry, 3) enhancing the TBI workforce through professional training, 4) providing information about TBI to families and referrals to appropriate services, and 5) improving local and national coordination and collaboration around TBI services and supports. With a previous grant, TBI was added to the Medical Home Portal to provide additional information about TBI diagnosis and treatment of young children (birth through age 4) for physicians, health care professionals, educators, families, and patients ([https://www.medicalhomeportal.org/]). The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Fund was established in 2008 by the Utah Legislature as a restricted special revenue fund. The fund consists of gifts, grants, donations, and any other funding from private sources. Individuals with a TBI may receive help with resource facilitation or neuropsychological testing through the TBI Fund. The TBI Fund is designed to be a payor of last resort, meaning individuals have no other financial means available to obtain these services. More information on the TBI Fund can be found at [https://vipp.utah.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/]. The Traumatic Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund was established during the 2012 Utah Legislative Session (Section 26-54) as a restricted special revenue fund that consists of gifts, grants, donations, or any other conveyance of money that may be made to the fund from private sources; portion ($20) of the impound fee as designated in Section 41-6a-1406; and amounts as appropriated by the legislature. The Legislature appropriated an initial allocation of $200,000 for State Fiscal Year 2013. The SCI/TBI Rehabilitation Fund provides individuals with spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries with physical, occupational, and speech therapy; and equipment necessary for daily living activities. More information on the SCI/TBI Rehabilitation Fund can be found at [https://vipp.utah.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/].

Date Indicator Content Last Updated: 11/30/2023


Other Views

The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 17:57:43 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 10:48:16 MST