Estimating nonfatal traumatic brain injury hospitalizations using an urban/rural index

OBJECTIVE: To develop state-level estimates of the annual number of nonfatal cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in hospitalization. METHODS: The estimation process incorporates annual nonfatal TBI hospitalization case counts from 15 states funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct TBI surveillance; annual fatal TBI case counts based on National Center for Health Statistics data for all 50 states; and an index reflecting the urban/rural character of each state. These data are used to develop a negative binomial regression model that yields estimates of the annual number of nonfatal TBI hospitalization cases for each state not funded to conduct TBI surveillance. RESULTS: Sensitivity analysis suggests that on average the estimates fall within +/- 15% of the case counts that would be obtained directly from surveillance. CONCLUSION: In combination, the TBI case count data and the urban/rural index support effective modeling and estimation of annual nonfatal TBI hospitalization case counts at the state level.