PREVALENCE AND OUTCOMES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AMONG CHILDREN IN SAUDI ARABIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Abstract
Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue worldwide, with possibly long-term repercussions for children. Understanding the prevalence and management of TBI in Saudi Arabia can inform preventive strategies and improve healthcare delivery for this vulnerable population. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and management of TBI among children in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We did a comprehensive search of online databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus. Two unbiased reviewers identified and retrieved data from relevant papers. Results: We included five studies with a total of 4159 participants and the majority were males (77.4%). The duration of PICU stay ranged from 1 day to 60 days. Two studies reported the prevalence of brain injury in Saudi children; 42% and 32.1%. Compared to patients with positive outcomes, those with poor outcomes had a considerably higher frequency of thrombocytopenia. Most cases showed good recovery, the mortality rates were similar (11.3% [11] and 14.9% [13]), and so was the associated neurological impairment. Conclusion: There is a heavy burden of dementia consecutive to CKD in the geriatric population. Better screening and treatment methods could be developed as a result of an improved understanding of causal factors, which could be facilitated by longitudinal research, brain imaging, and improved screening instruments.