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Racial/ethnic differences in combat- and non-combat-associated traumatic brain injury severity in the Veterans Health Administration: 2004-2010

Author

Listed:
  • Dismuke, C.E.
  • Gebregziabher, M.
  • Yeager, D.
  • Egede, L.E.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity and combat exposure by race/ethnicity. Methods. We estimated logit models of the fully adjusted association of combat exposure with TBI severity in separate race/ethnicity models for a national cohort of 132 995 veterans with TBI between 2004 and 2010. Results. Of veterans with TBI, 25.8% had served in a combat zone. Mild TBI increased from 11.5% to 40.3%, whereas moderate or severe TBI decreased from 88.5% to 59.7%. Moderate or severe TBI was higher in non-Hispanic Blacks (80.0%) and Hispanics (89.4%) than in non-Hispanic Whites (71.9%). In the fully adjusted all-race/ethnicity model, non-Hispanic Blacks (1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37, 1.52) and Hispanics (1.47; 95% CI = 1.26, 1.72) had higher odds of moderate or severe TBI than did non-Hispanic Whites. However, combat exposure was associated with higher odds of mild TBI in non-Hispanic Blacks (2.48; 95% CI = 2.22, 2.76) and Hispanics (3.42; 95% CI = 1.84, 6.35) than in non-Hispanic Whites (2.17; 95% CI = 2.09, 2.26). Conclusions. Research is needed to understand racial differences in the effect of combat exposure on mild TBI and on interventions to prevent TBI across severity levels. © 2015, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Suggested Citation

  • Dismuke, C.E. & Gebregziabher, M. & Yeager, D. & Egede, L.E., 2015. "Racial/ethnic differences in combat- and non-combat-associated traumatic brain injury severity in the Veterans Health Administration: 2004-2010," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(8), pages 1696-1702.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302545_0
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302545
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