Brain Injury Canada Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) FACT SHEET
Traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of death. In the US, they account for over 30% of all injury deaths. Canada is thought to have similar numbers of injuries, making this a problem of epidemic proportion.
Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury related hospital visits in the US, followed closely by motor vehicle collisions, being struck by or against something as in sports injuries, and violence such as assaults.
There were 16,811 hospitalizations as a result of TBI in Canada in 2003–2004, that is 46 people every day. It is estimated that every year, 10 million people are affected by a traumatic brain injury globally. In 2021, an estimated 640,000 people will suffer from traumatic brain injuries in Canada. By 2031, this number is expected to exceed 730,000.
According to the World Health Organization, traumatic brain injury will surpass many diseases as the major cause of death and disability by the year 2020.
