Karl F. Gunnarsson^1,2

Thordis Katrin Þorsteinsdottir^3,4

Marianne E. Klinke^3,4

Hjalti Mar Bjornsson^5,6

 

¹Department of Physical Therapy, University of Iceland, ²Landspítali - National University Hospital of Iceland, Department of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, ³Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Iceland, ⁴Landspítali – National University Hospital of Iceland, Department of Education and Research, ⁵Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, ⁶Landspítali – National University Hospital of Iceland, Department of Emergency Medicine

 

Correspondence: Karl Gunnarsson, karlfg@hi.is

 

Background: Head injuries are among the most common reasons for emergency department visits and can have long-term consequences for patients and the healthcare system. The aim was to study the incidence, causes, severity, and sex differences of head injuries at Landspítali during 2010–2023.

Methods: A retrospective study including all presentations of head injury between 2010 and 2023 to the Landspítali emergency department. Data were retrieved from the hospital’s health database according to ICD-10 and NOMESCO. Injury scores (ISS/AIS) were calculated for all diagnoses. Descriptive statistics, Poisson regression analysis, chi-square, and Kruskal–Wallis tests with post hoc analyses were performed.

Results: Head injuries accounted for 81,111 presentations, during the period from 2010 until 2023, averaging 5,794 per year. The daily average decreased from 19.4 to 13 cases. Incidence declined significantly (5.6% annually), but the proportion of admissions rose from three to five percent. The most common diagnoses were soft-tissue injuries and concussions. Mild and moderate injuries decreased, and severe injuries increased across the research period. Men more often had mild and severe injuries, whereas women more often had moderate injuries. Most injuries among children were mild. Ninety-day mortality remained stable. Most injury events were due to accidents and mishaps; violence was more frequent among those aged 15–29 years.

Conclusion: Despite the reduction in head injury cases in recent years, head injuries remain a substantial public health problem. Strengthened epidemiological data collection is needed to support policymaking, especially for vulnerable age groups. There is a growing need for integrated services for both older adults and young people in risk groups.