The Impact of Gender on Rates of Injury and Treatment
Every year, nearly three million Americans seek treatment in an emergency room for what will ultimately be diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Data compiled by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) indicates that men and women have different degrees of risk of TBI, and that they take different treatment paths in the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury.
Fundamental Differences in Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury
A study released in 2017 indicated that men are twice as likely as women to sustain a TBI. Researchers say that men tend to participate in more high risk behaviors, which make them more likely to suffer an initial TBI, aggravate a previous injury, or put themselves in jeopardy of repetitive traumatic brain injuries. At the same time, though, men typically have less time to devote to maintaining health or seeking treatment, and are often far less willing to acknowledge any type of injury or disability. Furthermore, our culture encourages men to be strong and shake off such types of injuries, further complicating recovery.
Here are some of the key findings from the BIAA study:
- More men suffer from TBI, but hospitalization rates tend to even out among senior citizens
- Men are more likely to check out of a hospital against medical advice
- Men are more likely to sustain a work-related TBI, typically in an accident—the highest rates are in law enforcement and public administration
- Women are more likely to get medical care and participate in rehab after a TBI
- While males showed more on-field signs of TBI, female athletes were more inclined to report traumatic brain injury
- Men who had suffered a TBI were more likely to engage in aggressive behavior than their female counterparts
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.