• Yi-Hua Chen, Jiunn-Horng Kang, and Herng-Ching Lin.
• School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, and Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 250 Wu-Hsing St., Taipei 110, Taiwan.
• Stroke. 2011 Oct 1;42(10):2733-9.

Background And PurposePrevious studies have identified an array of morbidities following traumatic brain injury (TBI), including certain neurological disorders. However, no direct evidence has been reported on the link between TBI and stroke. This population-based study was designed to estimate the risk of stroke during a period of 5 years following a TBI, compared with individuals who did not suffer TBI during the same period.MethodsData were obtained from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID 2000). A total of 23 199 patients receiving ambulatory or hospitalization care with a diagnosis of TBI were included, together with 69 597 non-TBI patients as our comparison group, matched by sex, age, and year of index use of health care. Each individual was followed for 5 years to identify subsequent occurrence of stroke. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed for analysis.ResultsDuring the 3-month follow-up period, 675 strokes (2.91%) occurred in TBI patients and in 207 patients (0.30%) in the non-TBI comparison cohort. A diagnosis of TBI was independently associated with a 10.21 (95% CI, 8.71-11.96), 4.61 (95% CI, 4.16-5.11), and 2.32 (95% CI, 2.17-2.47) times greater risk of stroke during 3-month, 1-year, and 5-year follow-up, respectively, after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and selected comorbidities. The risk of intracerebral hemorrhage was more noticeable among patients with TBI compared with those without a TBI.ConclusionsThis is the first report showing an increased risk of stroke among individuals who have sustained a TBI. We suggest a need for more intensive medical monitoring and health education following TBI, especially during the first few months and years.

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