Citation

Ma Z, Hui J, Yang C, Jiang J, Xie LI, Feng J. BMJ Open 2023; 13(3): e065371.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065371

PMID

36940941

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The elderly population is more vulnerable to traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared with younger adults, and there is an increasing trend in TBI-related hospitalisations and deaths in the elderly due to the ageing global population. This is a thorough update to a previous meta-analysis on the mortality of elderly TBI patients. Our review will include more recent studies and provide a comprehensive analysis of risk factors.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The protocol of our systematic review and meta-analysis is reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase from inception to 1 February 2023 reporting in-hospital mortality and/or risk factors predicting in-hospital mortality among elderly patients with TBI. We will perform a quantitative synthesis for in-hospital mortality data combined with meta-regression and subgroup analysis to determine whether there is a trend or source of heterogeneity. Pooled estimates for risk factors will be presented in the form of ORs and 95% CIs. Examples of risk factors include age, gender, cause of injury, severity of injury, neurosurgical intervention and preinjury antithrombotic therapy. Dose-response meta-analysis for age and risk of in-hospital mortality will be performed if sufficient studies are included. We will perform a narrative analysis if quantitative synthesis is not appropriate. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required; we will publish findings from this study in a peer-reviewed journal and present results at national and international conferences. This study will promote a better understanding and management of elderly/geriatric TBI. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022323231.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Aged; Humans; Risk Factors; geriatric medicine; trauma management; Research Design; *Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Hospital Mortality; Meta-Analysis as Topic; neurosurgery; Review Literature as Topic; Systematic Reviews as Topic