Systematic search and review of racial and ethnic differences in traumatic brain injury prevalence and incidence.

Background: Previous research suggests that some racial/ethnic groups are at increased risk for poor health outcomes following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Less is known about the extent to which TBI prevalence and incidence vary by race/ethnicity. This paper presents results of a systematic search and review of TBI prevalence and incidence among US racial and ethnic groups.

Methods: Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed, included any prevalence or incidence measure of head injury (TBI and concussion) in a US population, stratified by race and/or ethnicity and included data collected within the last 20 years. Estimates were synthesised and described based on study outcomes and population types.

Results: TBI prevalence and incidence varied by race and ethnicity across a range of population and outcome types. Past year self-reported prevalence of sports-related or recreation-related concussion ranged from about 11% to 40% and was generally highest among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) high school students and lowest among Asian high school students. Similarly, rates of TBI-related deaths across the USA ranged from 7.7 per 100 000 population among Asian/Pacific Islanders to 29.0 among AI/AN individuals. Rates of abusive head trauma were generally higher among black children.

Conclusions: This review suggests the prevalence and incidence of TBI vary considerably by race/ethnicity and across different outcomes and populations examined. However, certain race/ethnicity groups, like AI/AN individuals, generally experience the highest frequency of TBI. Future research and interventions to help reduce TBIs among groups at increased risk for this injury may be warranted.