Brain injury in the Commonwealth of Virginia: an analysis of Central Registry data, 1988-1993.

Cumulative data from the Virginia Brain Injury Central Registry, which maintains information on persons presenting to the emergency rooms for evaluation and treatment of head trauma, were analysed for fiscal years 1988-1993. Persons age 40 years and younger represented almost 80% of all head injuries presenting to Virginia emergency rooms. Age-adjusted incidence rates were greatest for children under age 6 years (237/100,000 persons-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 greater. Falls exceeded motor vehicle accidents as the most common cause of head trauma after fiscal year 1989 followed by assaults and sports/recreation-related injuries. Head injuries were most common in May through October, and early mortality rates increased progressively with age. Findings are contrasted with prior demographic and epidemiological studies limited to persons hospitalized following moderate to severe head trauma.