The Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury Occurring Among Patients with Parkinson Disease: A 14-Year Population-Based Study

World Neurosurg. 2018 May:113:e328-e335. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.02.027. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have implicated traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a risk factor for Parkinson disease (PD). However, the incidence risk of new-onset TBI among patients with PD is not well established. This study investigated the contribution of PD to new-onset TBI associations.

Methods: The study selected 6076 patients with PD and using 1:2 propensity score matching 12,152 general population cohorts in a longitudinal population database in Taiwan. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of TBI adjusted with the potential confounding factors.

Results: The incidence of TBI in patients with PD (2.57%) and compared cohorts (1.81%) was significantly different (P = 0.0007). Patients with PD had a higher risk of TBI (hazard ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-2.01) compared with the general population. Patients with PD with TBI incidence had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index than did the general population with TBI (P < 0.0001). Fall is the major cause of TBI in patients with PD.

Conclusions: This study shows that patients with PD have a high risk of TBI, and the major cause of TBI in patients with PD is fall.

Keywords: National Health Insurance Research Database; Parkinson disease; Propensity score; Traumatic brain injury.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / etiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology*
  • Propensity Score
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk Factors