title: Sex-differences in symptoms, disability, and life satisfaction three years after mild traumatic brain injury: a population-based cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate sex differences in symptoms, structure of symptoms, disability and life satisfaction 3 years after mild traumatic brain injury. Secondary aims were to find risk factors for adverse outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cohort comprised 137,000 inhabitants at risk in a defined population served by a single hospital in northern Sweden. Patients attending the emergency department following a mild traumatic brain injury in 2001 were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 214 patients aged 18-64 years, 163 answered a questionnaire on symptoms, disability, and life-satisfaction 3 years post-injury. The instruments were analysed with descriptive statistics. A principal component analysis of the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire was conducted. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-concussion syndrome was found in 50% of the women and 30% of the men. Disability was found in 52% of the women and 37% of the men, and 57% of the women and 56% of the men were satisfied with their lives. For both genders, high frequency of symptoms was a risk factor for disability and low life satisfaction. Back pain was a risk factor for disability. Living alone was a risk factor for low levels of life satisfaction. The principal component analysis revealed differences between the sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are sex differences in outcome 3 years after mild traumatic brain injury. Women and men should be analysed separately.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden. johan.styrke@surgery.umu.se
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Styrke
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sojka
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Björnstig
authors.forename: Per-Olov
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bylund
authors.forename: Britt-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stålnacke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult