Outcome of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Admitted to ICU UKMMC: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has led to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing a substantial burden socioeconomically. Development and adherence to management guidelines has shown promising results in improving the outcomes of patients with TBI, in both mortality as well as functionality. Nevertheless, a protocolised management guideline remains lacking in many centres in Malaysia. This single-centre retrospective study aimed to determine the outcomes of patients with TBI admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the associated risk factors. Additional work had been done to follow up on the employment status of these patients. ICU registry was screened for eligible patients with TBI admitted 2015-2019, and relevant information were extracted. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors. McNemar test was used to analyse post-traumatic employment status of patients. A total of 173 patients were studied, and all-cause mortality of 16.2% was reported. Increasing age, occurrence of hypoxaemia and hypotension respectively during the first 24-hour in ICU, and higher lactate level were independent risk factors to mortality. As many as 40.9% of patients who were employed or was a student prior to TBI, did not return to work/school. We concluded that the in-hospital mortality for patients admitted to ICU for TBI was high. Unemployment after TBI is high, however, it is not directly attributed by functional disability following the injury.