Validating Early Intracranial Pressure Detection and Identifying Intracranial Pressure Risk Factors in Adult Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Background/Objectives: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a life-threatening complication frequently observed in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite its critical impact, effective and non-invasive methods for early detection remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate early detection strategies for ICP and identify key risk factors to improve patient outcomes. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 215 adult TBI patients from October 2023 to October 2024. Data were collected from electronic medical records, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) assessments. Statistical methods included Chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, ANOVA, and logistic regression. Results: A demonstrated significant negative correlation between ICP and GCS components—eye-opening, motor, and verbal responses—both at admission and during symptom progression (p < .01). Elevated ICP was positively associated with longer hospital stays and higher medical costs (p < .01). Changes in respiratory rate, a component of Cushing’s reflex, were significantly linked to ICP (p < .05), while other vital signs, such as pulse rate and blood pressure, were predictive of mortality and GOS outcomes. Logistic regression yielded moderate predictive accuracy for ICP detection, with an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.54–0.93). Conclusions: GCS and respiratory rate are critical indicators for early ICP detection, but the predictive model’s performance highlights the need for further refinement. Future research should explore additional variables, such as oxygen saturation, and incorporate advanced monitoring techniques to enhance predictive accuracy.