title: Neurologically-related sequelae associated with mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for more than 75% of traumatic brain injuries every year. This study examines the temporal association between non-blast mTBI and the onset of neurologic sequelae to illuminate risks of post-concussive syndrome, epilepsy and chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large historical prospective study was conducted utilizing electronically-recorded demographic, medical and military-specific data for over half a million active duty US Air Force Airmen. This study utilized diagnostic codes to identify mTBI exposures, two control groups and three post-mTBI time periods. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRs were higher when mTBI exposed Airmen were compared with the full cohort and lower when compared with the other injured group. When compared to the other injured group, mTBI was positively associated with epilepsy/recurrent seizure outcomes, post-concussive syndrome and pain disorders. HRs tended to be highest within the first 30 days and decreased over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support that mTBI may have a prolonged neurological impact. Findings are also likely generalizable to young adult populations with exposure to non-blast related mTBI, including civilians, as those included in this study were young adults with a high prevalence of recreational/sports and motor vehicle injuries.
authors.affiliation: Vulnerability Analysis Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory , Wright-Patterson AFB, OH , USA .
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Casserly R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Russell K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: Clifford N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Otte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Concussion; mild brain injury; neurological; post-concussional syndrome.