Postconcussive symptom reporting among US combat veterans with mild traumatic brain injury from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between postconcussive symptoms and mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) among combat veterans while adjusting for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.


METHODS
Military personnel with provider-diagnosed MTBI (n = 334) or nonhead injury (n = 658) were identified from the Expeditionary Medical Encounter Database.


METHODS
Post-Deployment Health Assessments and Re-Assessments were used to examine postconcussive symptoms and self-rated health.


RESULTS
Personnel with MTBI were more likely to report headache (odds ratio [OR] = 3.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.19-5.17), back pain (OR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.23-2.60), memory problems (OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.20-2.88), tinnitus (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.10-2.41), and dizziness (OR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.06-4.29) compared with those with non-head injuries. Among those with MTBI, self-reported decline in health was associated with memory problems (OR = 5.07; 95% CI = 2.56-10.02) and dizziness (OR = 10.60; 95% CI = 3.48-32.27).


CONCLUSIONS
Mild traumatic brain injury is associated with reports of negative health consequences among combat veterans even when accounting for co-occurring psychological morbidity. The identification of postconcussive symptoms related to declines in a service member's self-rated health may be important in targeting and prioritizing clinical interventions.
Department of Medical Modeling, Simulation and Mission Support, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.
Andrew J
AJ
MacGregor
Amber L
AL
Dougherty
Janet J
JJ
Tang
Michael R
MR
Galarneau
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult