Smoking and outcome of traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
There is evidence that the cholinergic system is involved in cognitive sequels of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are known to have a major role in cognitive functions. Smokers have up-regulation of these receptors. This study investigated whether smoking is associated with the outcome from TBI.


METHODS
A specific questionnaire was sent, after checking inclusion and exclusion criteria, to 1022 subjects with TBI who had visited the neurological outpatient clinic of a university hospital during a 14-year period. Of these, 689 (67.4%) responded, forming the final study population. Associations between demographic variables, injury severity and outcome and smoking history were analysed using multivariate methods.


RESULTS
Smokers were more often men (p < 0.001), younger at the time of the injury (p = 0.008) and had less education (p < 0.0001). In univariate analysis, non-smokers did not differ for outcome of TBI by GOS-E (p = 0.08). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, no association was found between smoking history and TBI outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not suggest that smoking affects the outcome of TBI.
Department of Neurology, University of Turku and Turku University Central Hospital , Turku , Finland.
Anna
A
Ostberg
Olli
O
Tenovuo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D015854:Up-Regulation
D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic