New research shows that head injuries are directly linked to increased mortality rates.
The 30-year study revealed that adults who sustained head injuries had two (2.21) times more mortality than those who did not, according to research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
The study, published by JAMA Neurology on Jan. 23, also showed that death rates among people with moderate to severe head injuries were nearly three (2.87) times higher.
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Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News medical officer, considered this a “significant study,” in a statement he sent to Fox News Digital, as it followed 13,000 subjects over three decades.
“The implications are that once you have a head injury (or if you’re prone to it), your ability to function is compromised — making you more able to function.” [risk] of life-threatening events,” says Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
A healthcare professional examines an x-ray of a patient’s head; the man had suffered a head injury.
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These events may include an increased chance of falling or experiencing other comorbidities that are likely to go undetected or untreated.
Siegel added that patients are also more likely to not take medication or stand up for themselves.
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According to medicalxpress.com, more than 23 million adults in the US over the age of 40 have reported a head injury with loss of consciousness.
The implications of the study “is that once you have a head injury (or if you are prone to it), your ability to function is compromised,” Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News medical officer, told Fox News Digital.
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Head injuries can occur in a variety of ways, including from accidental falls, car accidents, and sports injuries.
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It has also been linked to long-term health problems such as late-onset epilepsy, dementia and stroke, the website wrote in a report.
The study specifically examined head injury patients – from 1987 to 2019 – who live at home, meaning they are not hospitalized or in nursing homes.
A female driver with a head injury gets out of her car after an accident.
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During the study period, 18.4% of patients reported experiencing one or more head injuries, while 12.4% of injuries were considered moderate or severe.
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The median time between injury and death was 4.7 years, medicalxpress.com reported.
Researchers also looked at the specific causes of death among participants, which tended to be cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disease.
A new study has found that death rates among people with moderate to severe head injuries were nearly three (2.87) times higher than among those who had no head injury.
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Two-thirds of these deaths from neurological disorders were caused by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
The findings highlight the ongoing need for head injury prevention strategies, the study said.
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Dr. Siegel said this includes effective protection, such as seat belts, as well as “comfortable” helmets that are not projectiles.
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“Too many cyclists forget to wear their helmets,” he added.