Global Epidemiology of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Ronnie E Baticulon, Jinno Jenkin Sy, Joseline Haizel-Cobbina et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the global incidence, mortality, clinical severity, and causes of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), drawing on population-level and hospital-level studies published from 2000 onward. The estimated annual incidence was 226.4 per 100 000 children, and an estimated 1.9 per 100 000 children died from TBI each year. Across hospital studies, 11.0% of patients had severe TBI and overall mortality was 1.4%. Studies from low- and middle-income countries reported higher proportions of severe TBI and higher mortality.
Key findings
- Estimated global pediatric TBI incidence was 226.4 per 100 000 children annually; estimated annual TBI mortality was 1.9 per 100 000.
- Across 79 studies from 42 countries, 11.0% (median: 10.7%) of patients had severe TBI; overall mortality was 1.4% (median: 3.2%).
- In 28 studies, the median mortality rate for severe TBI was 26.7%.
- Low- and middle-income country studies reported higher proportions of severe TBI and higher mortality; road traffic injuries predominated in Africa and low-income countries, while falls were more common elsewhere.
Why it matters
The review indicates a substantial worldwide burden of childhood TBI and highlights differences in severity, mortality, and injury causes across settings. These estimates can inform public health planning and underscore the need for better population-level data, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where the evidence base remains limited.
What to keep in mind
Population-level data were lacking in low- and lower-middle-income countries, limiting estimates and comparisons. Differences in reported incidence may reflect either true variation or differences in health-system capacity.