My research reveals intriguing spatial patterns in TBI prevalence, indicating that the distribution of TBI cases is not random but instead exhibits geographic clustering.
This study offers two significant contributions to spatial epidemiology. First, it demonstrates the distribution of TBI hotspots by major injury causes using the smallest available geographical unit. Second, we disentangle the various pathways through which deprivation impacts the risk of main mechanisms of TBI. These findings provide valuable insights for public health officials to design targeted injury prevention strategies in high-risk areas.
Funding acknowledgement: This work is supported by Mitacs Accelerate.
This study offers two significant contributions to spatial epidemiology. First, it demonstrates the distribution of TBI hotspots by major injury causes using the smallest available geographical unit. Second, we disentangle the various pathways through which deprivation impacts the risk of main mechanisms of TBI. These findings provide valuable insights for public health officials to design targeted injury prevention strategies in high-risk areas.
Funding acknowledgement: This work is supported by Mitacs Accelerate.
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Research questions
- What is the spatial distribution of TBI by mechanism?
- Where have TBI hotspots occurred?
- Are there differences in the sociodemographic and economic characteristics between spatial hotspots and coldspots?
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Methodology
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Results
- A total of 5394 TBI patients were eligible for inclusion in the study.
- The distribution of hotspots for falls exhibited no significant difference between urban and rural areas (p = 0.71).
- Conversely, hotspots related to violence were predominantly urban (p = 0.001), whereas hotspots for MVCs were mostly rural (p < 0.001).
- Distinct dimensions of deprivation were associated with falls, MVCs, and violent hotspots. Fall hotspots were significantly associated with areas characterized by higher residential instability (p < 0.001) and greater ethnocultural diversity (p < 0.001). Conversely, the same domains exhibited an inverse relationship with MVC hotspots; areas with low residential instability and ethnic homogeneity displayed a higher proportion of MVC hotspots.
- Economic dependency and situational vulnerability exhibited a strong gradient with MVC hotspots; the most deprived quintiles displayed the highest proportion of MVC hotspots compared with cold spots (ED; p = 0.002, SV; p < 0.001).
- Areas with the highest levels of ethnocultural diversity were found to have a significantly higher proportion of violence-related hotspots than cold spots (p = 0.005).
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Posters
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Publication