title: Health-related quality of life 24 months after sustaining a minor musculoskeletal injury in a road traffic crash: A prospective cohort study.
abstract: A better understanding of the long-term factors that independently predict poorer quality of life following mild to moderate musculoskeletal injuries is needed. We aimed to establish the predictors of quality of life (including sociodemographic, health, psychosocial, and pre-injury factors) 24 months after a noncatastrophic road traffic injury.
  
  
  
  In a prospective cohort study of 252 participants with mild/moderate injury sustained in a road traffic crash, quality of life was measured 24 months following the baseline survey. A telephone-administered questionnaire obtained information on various potential explanatory variables. Health-related quality of life was measured using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-12 (SF-12). Multivariable linear regression analyses determined the associations between explanatory variables and quality of life measures.
  
  
  
  Mean SF-12 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores increased by 7.3 and 2.5 units, respectively, from baseline to 24-month follow-up. Each 10-year increase in baseline age was independently associated with 3.1-unit (P < .001) and 1.5-unit (P = .001) decrease in EQ Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and SF-12 PCS scores at follow-up, respectively. Poor/fair compared to excellent pre-injury health was associated with a 0.16-, 21.3-, and 11.5-unit decrease in EQ-5D summary (P = .03), VAS scores (P = .001), and SF-12 PCS scores (P < .001), respectively. Baseline pain severity ratings and pain catastrophizing scores were inversely associated with 24-month EQ VAS scores (both P < .001). Each unit increase in baseline pain score (P = .001) and pain catastrophizing score (P = .02) was associated with a 1.0- and 4.6-unit decrease in SF-12 MCS scores at 24 months, respectively. Other observed predictors of quality of life measures (EQ-5D summary and/or VAS scores and/ or SF-12 MCS) included marital status, smoking, hospital admission, pre-injury health (anxiety/depression and chronic illness), and whiplash injury.
  
  
  
  Sociodemographic indicators, pre-injury health, and biopsychosocial correlates were independently associated with health-related quality of life 24 months following a noncatastrophic road traffic crash injury.
authors.affiliation: a John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Studies , Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Bamini
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.affiliation: a John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Studies , Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Jagnoor
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jagnoor
authors.affiliation: b Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: c Pain Management Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.affiliation: a John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Studies , Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Petrina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: c Pain Management Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Australia.|d School of Public Health , University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blyth
authors.affiliation: e George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: a John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Studies , Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Musculoskeletal injury; cohort study; quality of life; road traffic crash