Sports-related traumatic brain injuries and acute care costs in children

ObjectiveTo estimate traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and acute care costs due to sports activities. MethodsA planned secondary analysis of 7799 children from 5 years old to <18 years old with head injuries enrolled in a prospective multicentre study between 2011 and 2014. Sports-related TBIs were identified by the epidemiology codes for activity, place and injury mechanism. The sports cohort was stratified into two age groups (younger: 5-11 and older: 12-17 years). Acute care costs from the publicly funded Australian health system perspective are presented in 2018 pound sterling () pound. ResultsThere were 2903 children (37%) with sports-related TBIs. Mean age was 12.0 years (95% CI 11.9 to 12.1 years); 78% were male. Bicycle riding was associated with the most TBIs (14%), with mean per-patient costs of 802 pound (95% CI 644 pound to 960) pound and 17% of acute costs. The highest acute costs (21%) were from motorcycle-related TBIs (3.8% of injuries), with mean per-patient costs of 3795 pound (95% CI 1850 pound to 5739) pound. For younger boys and girls, bicycle riding was associated with the highest TBIs and total costs; however, the mean per-patient costs were highest for motorcycle and horse riding, respectively. For older boys, rugby was associated with the most TBIs. However, motorcycle riding had the highest total and mean per-patient acute costs. For older girls, horse riding was associated with the most TBIs and highest total acute costs, and motorcycle riding was associated with the highest mean per-patient costs. ConclusionInjury prevention strategies should focus on age-related and sex-related sports activities to reduce the burden of TBIs in children.