Article

OBJECTIVE: To profile the demographic, clinical and environmental characteristics
of persons with acquired brain injury receiving inpatient rehabilitation services
in Canada. This study utilizes data from the Canadian Institute for
Health Information's National Rehabilitation Reporting System, between April 2001
and March 2006. The data were collected from publicly insured institutions
providing inpatient rehabilitation across Canada. The main outcome measures
examined were demographic and clinical characteristics. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with
brain injury by traumatic (n=2675) vs non-traumatic causes (n=2759). RESULTS:
Approximately half of acquired brain injury patients receiving inpatient
rehabilitation had non-traumatic causes of brain injury. Traumatic brain injury
patients were more likely to be younger, male, from rural areas, and to make
greater gains in rehabilitation. Differences were found in the types and numbers
of comorbidities. However, patients from these 2 groups had similar lengths of
rehabilitation stay. CONCLUSION: These findings support a differential profile of
patients by brain injury aetiology. This has relevance for staff training,
resource allocation and future research.

Langue : ANGLAIS