Factors associated with overall functional disability one year after traumatic brain injury.
The prevalence of factors associated with functional disability was estimated six and twelve months after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in patients initially treated in the emergency unit of reference for the Metropolitan Region of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A prospective cohort study was performed, including 307 individuals with TBI between the ages of 15 and 65 years whose diagnosis was confirmed via neuroimaging. Using data from the period of hospitalization, 242 patients were contacted six months after the injury and 222 patients after twelve months. Functional impairment was evaluated with the Disability Rating Scale. The overall prevalence of functional disability (60.3% in the first evaluation and 40.5% in the second) was significantly associated with age, the initial gravity of the TBI and the duration of the patient's hospitalization, as well as with: fatigue; aphasia; memory, attention and concentration disorders; balance disorders; paresis; and lack of medical consultations with specialists. The high frequency of overall functional disability in the six or twelve-month follow-up period, even for patients with mild traumas, shows the relevance of TBI as a cause of disability and impairment, as well as the need for follow-up services.
Kinesiologist. Doctor in Epidemiology. Assistant professor, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Brasil. hmmaia@uneb.br
Helena
H
Fraga Maia
Medical. Doctor in Public Health. Assistant professor, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Social, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brasil.
Inês
I
Dourado
Medical. Doctor in Public Health. Assistant professor, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Social, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brasil.
Rita de Cássia Pereira
Rde C
Fernandes
Doctor. Doctor in Epidemiology. Associate Professor, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Investigador I-B, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasil.
Guilherme Loureiro
GL
Werneck
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
Traumatic Brain Injury; Disability Evaluation; Rehabilitation