Sex-differences in symptoms, disability, and life satisfaction three years after mild traumatic brain injury : a population-based cohort study

• Published in: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
• Main Authors: Styrke, Johan, Sojka, Peter, Björnstig, Ulf, Bylund, Per-Olof, Stålnacke, Britt-Marie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Kirurgi 2013
• Subjects: traumatic brain injury; minor head injury; sex differences; post-concussion syndrome; follow-up studies; quality of life; principal component analysis; odds ratio; Surgery; Kirurgi; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-61422; https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1215

OBJECTIVE: To investigate sex differences in symptoms, structure of symptoms, disability and life satisfaction 3 years after mild traumatic brain injury. Secondary aims were to find risk factors for adverse outcome. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study.Patients: The cohort comprised 137,000 inhabitants at risk in a defined population served by a single hospital in northern Sweden. Patients attending the emergency department following a mild traumatic brain injury in 2001 were included. METHODS: Of 214 patients aged 18–64 years, 163 answered a questionnaire on symptoms, disability, and life-satisfaction 3 years post-injury. The instruments were analysed with descriptive statistics. A principal component analysis of the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire was conducted. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: Post-concussion syndrome was found in 50% of the women and 30% of the men. Disability was found in 52% of the women and 37% of the men, and 57% of the women and 56% of the men were satisfied with their lives. For both genders, high frequency of symptoms was a risk factor for disability and low life satisfaction. Back pain was a risk factor for disability. Living alone was a risk factor for low levels of life satisfaction. The principal component analysis revealed differences between the sexes. CONCLUSION: There are sex differences in outcome 3 years after mild traumatic brain injury. Women and men should be analysed separately.