Regional and National Burden of Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury in North Africa and Middle East Regions, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis for The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are significant central nervous system injuries with epidemiological importance, particularly in the North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) region, which is diverse in public health aspects across its 21 countries.

Objective: This study aims to present an up-to-date assessment of the regional and national TBI and SCI burden and their causes in the NAME region from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: We utilized the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) results tool to gather relevant data. The analysis included TBI and SCI incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) rates, along with absolute numbers and percent change trends by gender, age, and country from 1990 to 2021. We also examined the causes of TBI and SCI and identified the most common causes for each country.

Results: In 2021, TBI age-standardized rates of incidence, prevalence, and YLDs were 333 (293, 380), 593 (553, 642), and 87 (63, 114) per 100,000 people, respectively. For SCI, the rates were 10 (7, 13), 256 (200, 344), and 78 (51, 115). Since 1990, incidence rates of TBI and SCI have decreased in most countries. Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Yemen experienced increasing incidence rates for both injuries. Transport injuries and unintentional injuries were the primary causes of TBI and SCI, respectively, in most countries.

Conclusion: Despite global trends showing a decreased burden of TBI and SCI, the NAME region's public health systems should remain vigilant. Both injuries are epidemiologically significant and require continued public health interventions to manage and control them in this particular region.