According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.7 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) annually in the United States. Of these, 80 percent (1.365 million) receive treatment in the emergency room and 275,000 in the hospital. Sadly, 52,000 people die from TBIs each year. That means, every day, 142 families lose a loved one to TBIs—six every hour.
As a proportion of all injuries, TBIs account for 4.8 percent of emergency room visits, 15.1 percent of hospitalizations, and a staggering 30.5 percent of deaths.
Some people are more likely to suffer TBIs than others. For example, seniors aged 65 or older, children aged four and younger, and adolescents between 15 and 19 are at particular risk of TBI. Seniors aged 75 and older experience the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths. Males are more likely to sustain TBIs in every age group than females.