Preinjury factors and 3-month outcomes following emergency department diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) by comparing selected outcomes of emergency department-diagnosed patients with mild head injuries to those with non-head injuries.


METHODS
Five emergency departments in southern California.


METHODS
Two cohorts, one with MTBI (n = 689 at initial assessment) and another with non-head injuries (n = 1318).


METHODS
Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at 3 months postinjury.


RESULTS
Postconcussion symptom rates and summary Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire scores were significantly higher for persons with MTBI than for the comparison cohort. Women reported significantly more symptoms than men. Complaints about sleep quality overall (and also sleep latency and daytime dysfunction subcomponents) were significantly more frequent among those with MTBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with MTBI have significantly more negative outcomes than patients in the comparison cohort and should be clinically managed with these prevalent outcomes in mind. Further study of follow-up medical management and the development of treatment guidelines for this group of patients are both warranted.
Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center, University of California-Los Angeles, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. jkraus3637@adelphia.net
Jess
J
Kraus
Paul
P
Hsu
Kathryn
K
Schaffer
Federico
F
Vaca
Kathi
K
Ayers
Frank
F
Kennedy
Abdelmonem A
AA
Afifi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002140:California; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014193:Trauma Centers; D055815:Young Adult