The association between female sex and depression following traumatic brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

While women tend to experience more severe psychiatric and neurobehavioral symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI), the connection between sex and post-TBI depression remains poorly understood. To explore the potential association between sex and post-TBI depression, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, including studies with participants who had no prior diagnosis of depression. Thirteen studies met the criteria for inclusion, collectively investigating a cohort of 449,471 individuals with TBI. The median age of the subjects was 49.9 years (≥7 years old). All participants were observed across a spectrum of TBI severities, encompassing mild, moderate, and severe cases. A pooled analysis of 449,471 subjects, revealed a statistically significant difference in the risk of developing post-TBI depression between male and female patients, with females at a significantly higher risk compared to males (RR = 1.4 [95 % CI, 1.29–1.52], P