Epidemiology of work-related traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 353 - 377
• Main Authors: Chang, Vicky C., Guerriero, E. Niki, Colantonio, Angela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-04-2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Age Factors; Agriculture - statistics & numerical data; Brain Injuries - epidemiology; Brain Injuries - etiology; Construction Industry - statistics & numerical data; epidemiology; Forestry - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Incidence; Industry - statistics & numerical data; Mining - statistics & numerical data; Occupational Health; occupational health and safety; Occupational Injuries - epidemiology; Occupational Injuries - etiology; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; systematic review; traumatic brain injury; work-related; traumatic brain injury; epidemiology; occupational health and safety; systematic review; work-related
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22418

Objective
This systematic review aimed to describe the burden and risk factors of work‐related traumatic brain injury (wrTBI) and evaluate methodological quality of existing literature on wrTBI.
Methods
A search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) was conducted to identify articles published between 1980 and 2013 using a combination of terms for work, TBI, and epidemiology, without geographical limitations.
Results
Ninety‐eight studies were included in this review, of which 24 specifically focused on wrTBI. In general, male workers, those in the youngest and oldest age groups, and those working in the primary (e.g., agriculture, forestry, mining) or construction industries were more likely to sustain wrTBI, with falls being the most common mechanism of injury.
Conclusions
This review identified workers at highest risk of wrTBI, with implications for prevention efforts. Future research of better methodological quality is needed to provide a more complete picture of the epidemiology of wrTBI. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:353–377, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.