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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Asian J Neurosurg 2025; 20(02): 344-349
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1805035
Original Article

Association between Brain Tumors and Head Injury: A Hospital-Based Case–Control Study in Afghanistan

Mohammad Homayun Tawhid
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Hashmatullah Mawlana Rahimi 
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Hasibullah Baha Nijrabi
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Mohammad Sadeq Jawhar
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Ahmad Fawad Pirzad
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Emal Shekaib 
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Rohullah Sakhi
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Mohammad Haroon Khurasani
1   Neurosurgery Department, Ali Abad University Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences
,
Khalid Khan Zadran
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Abstract

Objectives

Brain tumors pose a significant global health challenge, contributing to both mortality and disability. While various risk factors have been proposed, the association between head injuries and brain tumor development remains debated. Understanding this link is particularly crucial in resource-limited regions like Afghanistan. This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between head injuries and brain tumor development in the Afghan population.

Materials and Methods

This case–control study was conducted at Ali Abad University Hospital in Kabul from October 2022 to September 2023. Data were collected from 64 patients diagnosed with brain tumors (cases) and 159 matched controls without tumors. Patient demographics and history of head injuries were recorded and analyzed.

Results

The association between head injury and brain tumor incidence was assessed using the chi-square test and logistic regression. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to determine the strength of the association, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A history of head injury was reported in 42.2% of brain tumor cases, compared to 22% in the control group (p = 0.002). Individuals with a history of head injury had significantly higher odds of developing a brain tumor (OR = 2.585; 95% CI = 1.388–4.815). Most brain tumor cases (71.9%) were aged 36 to 65 years, with a gender distribution of 56.3% male and 43.7% female. In contrast, the control group had a higher proportion of males (72.3%).

Conclusion

This study suggests a significant correlation between head injuries and brain tumor development, aligning with findings from global research on this debated relationship. Further large-scale studies across Afghanistan are needed to validate these findings and provide deeper insights into the potential risks associated with head injuries and brain tumor development.

Keywords

brain neoplasm - head trauma - association - risk factors - epidemiology

Note

A recommendation for a comprehensive and national cohort study conducted at a larger scale throughout Afghanistan, to reach a more reliable and generalizable conclusion at the national level. Considering that this research was designed as a case–control study in the most important national center for brain tumor treatment in Afghanistan, “Ali Abad University Hospital - Kabul City,” and with an adequate number of case and control samples, this study represents the first nationwide study and its results are highly credible. This research was limited to a sample collected within 1 year from a single neurosurgery center. All information presented in the manuscript has been rigorously based on empirical data and supported by robust academic evidence. Data has been clearly and transparently represented, maintaining integrity and openness throughout the research process. Every effort was undertaken to provide a comprehensive and accurate account, with full transparency to allow for scrutiny and verification of the findings by the academic community.




Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. März 2025

© 2025. Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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