BRAIN INJURY IN THE COMMONWEALTH-OF-VIRGINIA - AN ANALYSIS OF CENTRALREGISTRY DATA, 1988-1993

Cumulative data from the Virginia Brain Injury Central Registry, which maintains information on persons presenting to the emergency rooms fo r evaluation and treatment of head trauma, were analysed for fiscal ye ars 1988-1993. Persons age 40 years and younger represented almost 80% of all head injuries presenting to Virginia emergency rooms. Age-adju sted incidence rates were greatest for children under age 6 years (237 /100,000 person-years), and least for persons age 40-69 years (56/100, 000 person-years). Head injuries occurred 1 . 4 times more frequently in males than females, and male mortality rates were 1 . 6 times great er. Falls exceeded motor vehicle accidents as the most common cause of head trauma after fiscal year 1989 followed by assaults and sports/re creation-related injuries. Head injuries were most common in May throu gh October, and early mortality rates increased progressively with age . Findings are contrasted with prior demographic and epidemiological s tudies limited to persons hospitalized following moderate to severe he ad trauma.