EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEAD-INJURY IN RURAL TAIWAN - A 4 YEAR SURVEY

An epidemiological study of head injury in Hualien County, Taiwan, was undertaken from January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1991. The age-adjuste d incidence rate of head injury was 382/100 000, 499/100 000 for males and 244/100 000 for females. The highest incidence rate was observed in the elderly group 70 years or older. It is notable that 79% of head injuries were associated with traffic accidents, 75% of which directl y involved motocycle use. The age-adjusted mortality rate was 89/100 0 00 per year, 125/100 000 for males and 47/100 000 for females. As to t he severity of head injury, the elderly group presented the highest pe rcentage of moderate to severe degrees of injury as well as mortality. The victims of motorcycle accidents and pedestrians had the highest p ercentage of relatively severe head injury. Hospitalised patients show ed an outcome worse than that ever reported in the literature. (C) Pea rson Professional 1995