Return to Work After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Nationwide Follow-up Study.
To determine return to work (RTW) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare long-term labor market attachment (LMA) with the general population.



All persons aged 18 to 64 years who received highly specialized neurorehabilitation after severe TBI between 2004 and 2012 (n = 637) were matched to general population controls on age, sex, preinjury employment status, educational level, and residence (n = 2497).



Nationwide follow-up study using weekly records on public assistance benefits.



Both RTW and LMA were defined as having no public assistance benefits except education grants/leave. Stable LMA was defined as weeks with LMA of 75% or more. LMA among persons with severe TBI and controls was compared using multivariable conditional logistic regression.



RTW mainly occurred within first 2 years after severe TBI, with 30% of the people attempting RTW and 16% achieving stable LMA within 2 years. The prevalence of people with LMA decreased to 11% from 2½ years to 5 years postinjury. Adjusted odds ratios were 0.01 for LMA up to 2 years postinjury and 0.05 for stable LMA for persons with severe TBI compared with the general population.



Both RTW and long-term LMA after severe TBI were low in Denmark when compared with the general population and other countries.
Research Department, Hammel Neurorehabilitation Center and University Research Clinic, Aarhus University, Hammel, Denmark (Ms Odgaard and Drs Pedersen and Nielsen); and Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark (Dr Johnsen).
Lene
L
Odgaard
Søren Paaske
SP
Johnsen
Asger Roer
AR
Pedersen
Jørgen Feldbæk
JF
Nielsen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult