Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38779274›Full record

ArticleCureus2024

Trends in Traumatic Brain Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Center Review of Patient Charts From Pakistan.

Salaar Ahmed, Ammar Anwer, Muhammad Abdullah, Mohammad Ashraf, Javed Iqbal, Javaria Siddiq, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Hira Khan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Salaar AhmedMedical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, PAK.
Ammar AnwerDepartment of Neurosurgery, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, PAK.
Muhammad AbdullahMedical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, PAK.
Mohammad AshrafDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Wolfson School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, GBR.
Javed IqbalDepartment of Neurosurgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Javaria SiddiqDepartment of Neurosurgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, PAK.
Naveed Ahmed KhanDepartment of Plastic Surgery, University College of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, PAK.
Hira KhanMedical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, PAK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of injury-related deaths, making it a public health concern of extreme importance. In a developing country such as Pakistan, TBIs are significantly underreported, with the treatment frequently being delayed and inadequate, especially in rural healthcare setups all across the country. This concern is further magnified by insufficient epidemiological data on TBIs available in Pakistan. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought consequential changes to the healthcare system with the priority shifting toward COVID-19 patients, resulting in considerable changes to the workflow and management of TBIs. The primary objective of this study is to offer valuable insights into the epidemiology of TBIs in Pakistan and its relationship with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care center in a metropolitan city in Pakistan. Patient charts were reviewed from January to August 2020, and data was extracted including demographics, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes for cases of TBI. Results The total number of patients is 2126, male 78% and female 21.4%. The mean age of the patients was 28.85. The state of admissions at the hospital is at 99.7% for EME admissions and 0.282% for OPD admissions. Participants presented with loss of consciousness (70.7%), nosebleeds, (53.2%), vomiting (69.0%), and seizures (11.5%). The majority (51.1%) were related to road traffic accidents, followed by falls (20.7%), and assaults (4%). While 1202 (58.5%) of these were managed conservatively, others underwent surgical treatment in the form of craniotomy (28.0%), Burr holes (3.20%), and fracture elevation and repair (10.5%). A decrease in the number of reported TBI cases was observed with lockdown implementation in Pakistan. Conclusion The transportation sector in Pakistan was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a decline in road traffic injuries and TBIs. Stringent mobility constraints and changes in societal and cultural norms have contributed to this reduction.

Indexed as

covid 19low middle-income countriesneurotraumapakistanroad traffic accidentstraumatic brain injury

Identifiers

PMID38779274
PMCPMC11110921

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.