Traumatic Brain Injuries: Data blog

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) impact the lives of people in Canada across all ages

The causes of TBIs vary with age groups. The most common causes include:

• falls
• sports and recreational activities
• transport incidents like motor vehicle collisions and pedestrians struck by vehicles ^{Footnote 1}

Concussions are the most frequent type of TBI and have drawn media attention in recent years. Concussions are 80% to 95% of TBIs^{Footnote 2 Footnote 3 Footnote 4 Footnote 5}. In 2019, it’s estimated that over 400,000 Canadians aged 12 years or older sustained one or more concussions^{Footnote 6}.

Brain injury prevention tips

• wear a seatbelt when driving or riding in a vehicle
• wear approved helmets during sports and recreational activities (including cycling, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing)
• remove tripping hazards and have good lighting in your home to reduce the risks of falls
• install safety products for children in homes, such as stair gates and window stops^{Footnote 7}

Key findings from brain injury data

Health data helps us monitor and better understand the causes and extent of TBIs in Canada. In August of 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada released its Injury in Review report. The report explores how TBIs vary across age groups^{Footnote 1}. This data blog builds on the 2020 report. It gives key statistics on TBIs, using the most recent, available health data on hospitalizations and emergency department visits in Canada.

Discharge Abstract Database

The Canadian Institute for Health Information has a Discharge Abstract Database (DAD). The database captures administrative, clinical and demographic information on hospital discharges in Canada. All facilities in all provinces and territories except Quebec are required to report data.

Between fiscal years 2018 and 2023, there were 127,460 TBI-related hospitalizations reported in Canada (excluding Quebec). This is an average of approximately 21,200 per year. Among these hospitalizations:

• 11% of cases were concussions
• 63% of cases were in males (and males were the majority of cases across most age groups)
• in children and youth aged 5 to 19 years, the most common causes were sports (35%) and transport incidents (29%)
• in adults aged 20 to 64 years, the most common causes were falls (37%) and transport incidents (24%)
• in adults aged 65 years and older, the most common cause was falls (86%)

National Ambulatory Care Reporting System

The Canadian Institute for Health Information’s National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) collects data from emergency department visits, day surgery and other ambulatory care visits. Data includes administrative, clinical and demographic information. Currently, only Alberta, Ontario, and the Yukon report on their entire population.

Between fiscal years 2018 and 2023, there was an estimated^{Footnote a} 823,884 TBI-related emergency department visits in Canada. This is an average of 137,300 per year. Among these visits:

• 74% of cases were concussions
• 51% of cases were in males
• in children and youth aged 5 to 19 years, the most common causes were sports (44%) and falls (24%)
• in adults aged 20 to 64 years, the most common causes were falls (32%) and being struck by or against something or someone (18%)
• in adults aged 65 years and older, the most common cause was falls (82%)

Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program

The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) is an injury and poisoning surveillance system. It’s a program of the Public Health Agency of Canada. The program collects clinical and demographic data on emergency department visits from 21 hospitals across Canada. Researchers use narrative text from CHIRPP forms to better understand the events that lead to hospital visits. CHIRPP data are not meant to represent all injuries and poisonings occurring in Canada.

Between April 1, 2011 and February 12, 2024:

• 650,336 head injuries were reported in CHIRPP
  • 44.8% of these cases (n=291,465) were categorized as TBIs

• 14.8% of cases involved sporting and recreational activities (SPAR) among children aged 5 to 19 years were TBI.
  • The top activities leading to TBIs^{Footnote b} in male children were:
    • rugby (26.9%)
    • ice hockey (25.5%)
    • sledding (24.7%)
  • The top activities leading to TBIs in female children were:
    • ringette (36.7%)
    • ice hockey (31.0%)
    • rugby (30.7%)