Sex-stratified patterns in geriatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury and intracranial bleeding: a retrospective cohort study

Dublin Core

Title

Sex-stratified patterns in geriatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury and intracranial bleeding: a retrospective cohort study

Subject

Traumatic brain injury, TBI, Mild TBI, Geriatric TBI, Sex, Sex differences

Description

Abstract
Background Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common diagnosis among elderly patients treated in emergency
departments. It is often complicated by age-related physiological changes such as brain atrophy, cognitive
impairment, and frailty. While sex differences are increasingly recognized in TBI pathophysiology and clinical
management, limited research has explored their impact on geriatric mTBI complicated by intracranial bleeding. This
study aimed to investigate sex-stratified patterns in injury mechanisms, clinical presentation, and associated injuries
among older adults with mTBI.
Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center cohort study of geriatric patients (≥65 years) hospitalized
at the Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Košice, Slovakia with mTBI complicated by intracranial bleeding over a
30-month period (July 2022– December 2024). Patient data were extracted from electronic health records, including
demographic characteristics, injury mechanisms, symptomatology, radiological findings, and clinical outcomes.
Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive and comparative methods.
Results A total of 117 patients (55 females, 62 males) met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 77.0 years
(IQR: 12.0), with females presenting at a higher median age than males (80 vs. 75.5 years). Causes of injury differed
significantly between sexes (p<0.001); while mechanical falls were predominant in both groups, alcohol-related
injuries were significantly more common in males (37.1% vs. 7.3%). Symptom presentation also varied, with females
exhibiting a higher prevalence of multiple symptoms, while males more frequently reported amnesia or loss of
consciousness (p=0.029). Additional injuries showed sex-related differences, with skull fractures more prevalent
in males (41.9% vs. 21.8%) and pelvic (0 vs. 7.3%) or upper limb fractures (0 vs. 12.7%) more common in females
(p=0.005).
Conclusion Sex-based differences in the presentation and symptomatology of geriatric patients with mTBI and
intracranial bleeding highlight the need for tailored diagnostic and management approaches. Recognizing these

Creator

Marian Sedlak1* , Kornelia Hutnanova2 , Tomas Petras3 , Eva Sedlakova4 , Robert Kremen1 , Denis Marko1 ,
Radoslav Morochovic1 and Rastislav Burda1

Source

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00915-2

Date

2025

Contributor

Peri Irawan

Format

pdf

Language

english

Type

text

Files

Citation

Marian Sedlak1* , Kornelia Hutnanova2 , Tomas Petras3 , Eva Sedlakova4 , Robert Kremen1 , Denis Marko1 , Radoslav Morochovic1 and Rastislav Burda1, “Sex-stratified patterns in geriatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury and intracranial bleeding: a retrospective cohort study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12826.