Functional outcome and health-related quality of life 10 years after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the functional outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQL) 10 years after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
A retrospective, population-based study of 62 survivors of working-age with moderate-to-severe TBI injured in 1995/1996, and hospitalized at the Trauma Referral Center in Eastern Norway. Functional status was measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E). HRQL was assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire.


RESULTS
The mean current-age was 40.8 years. The frequency of epilepsy was 19% and the depression rate 31%. A majority had good recovery (48%) or moderate disability (44%). Employment rate was 58%. Functional and employment status were associated with initial injury severity in contrast to HRQL. Study patients had significantly lower scores in all SF-36 dimensions when compared with the general Norwegian population.


CONCLUSIONS
At 10-years follow-up, our study population is still in their most productive years and affected domains should be considered in long-term follow-up and intervention programs.
Andelic
N
N
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ulleval University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. nada.andelic@ulleval.no
Hammergren
N
N
Bautz-Holter
E
E
Sveen
U
U
Brunborg
C
C
Røe
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004651:Employment; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life