Traumatic brain injury (TBI) imposes a substantial and growing economic burden worldwide, driven by healthcare utilisation, long-term disability, lost productivity, and broader social costs.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that TBI contributes to more than USD $80 billion annually in direct and indirect costs, including medical care, rehabilitation, and lost productivity, with mild TBI accounting for the majority of cases¹. More recent modelling suggests the true economic burden may be higher when long-term cognitive, psychological, and employment impacts are fully considered².

In Australia, comprehensive national data remain limited, but available analyses highlight a similarly significant burden. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has reported that TBI represents one of the leading causes of injury-related hospitalisation and disability³. Earlier economic modelling estimated the total cost of TBI at approximately AUD $8.6 billion per year, with the majority of costs borne by individuals and families, followed by state and federal governments⁴. Lifetime costs per individual were estimated at AUD $2.5 million for moderate TBI and AUD $4.8 million for severe TBI⁴.

Critically, these estimates largely exclude mild TBI (concussion), which accounts for 80–90% of all TBI presentations. Contemporary data show that sport-related concussion hospitalisations continue to rise, driven by increased participation and improved recognition, placing additional pressure on emergency departments and follow-up services³,⁵. When indirect costs such as lost productivity, repeat injury, and long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes are considered, the economic impact of mTBI is likely to rival or exceed that of moderate and severe injury.