QuickStats: Percentage of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)–Related Deaths,* by Underlying Cause and Age Group — United States, 2013

The causes of injury that result in TBI-related deaths vary by age group. In 2013, 77% of the TBI-related deaths among infants aged <1 year were from causes other than transportation, firearms, or falls, and primarily resulted from assault and maltreatment. Transportation accounted for 53% of the TBI-related deaths among children aged 1–14 years. Firearm-related injuries accounted for 50% and 52% of the TBI-related deaths for persons aged 15–24 and 25–64 years, respectively. Most of the firearm-related TBI deaths in these two age groups were suicides (62% and 83%, respectively). The majority (61%) of TBI-related deaths for those aged ≥65 years resulted from falls.

Source: National Vital Statistics System mortality data. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm. Additional information on TBI available at http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/.

Reported by: Holly Hedegaard, MD, HHedegaard@cdc.gov, 301-458-4460.

Alternate Text: The figure above is a bar chart showing the causes of injury that result in traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related deaths vary by age group. In 2013, 77% of the TBI-related deaths among infants aged <1 year were from causes other than transportation, firearms, or falls, and primarily resulted from assault and maltreatment. Transportation accounted for 53% of the TBI-related deaths among children aged 1-14 years. Firearm-related injuries accounted for 50% and 52% of the TBI-related deaths for persons aged 15-24 and 25-64 years, respectively. Most of the firearm-related TBI deaths in these two age groups were suicides (62% and 83%, respectively). The majority (61%) of TBI-related deaths for those aged ≥65 years resulted from falls.