Huan-Hsuan Hsu1, Wen-Hsuan Lai2, Hsiu-Ting Yu3, Sheng-Huang Xiao4, Yi-Hsin Tsai5, Kuo-Chuan Wang6, Sheng-Jean Huang7, Chi-Cheng Yang3,8. 1. Department of Neurology, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Tanzih Township, Taiwan. 2. Division of Rehabilitation, Yi-Her Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 3. Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Taipei City Hospital, Ren-Ai Branch, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 6. Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 8. Holistic Mental Health Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Postconcussion symptoms (PCS) are commonly reported by patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Although PCS significantly recovered by 3-month postinjury, a number of patients still experienced persistent PCS for >1 year. As few researchers investigated long-term PCS endorsement, the present study thus aims to show the latent structure of long-term PCS and further uncover its associating factors. METHODS: In total, 110 patients with MTBI and 32 healthy participants were prospectively enrolled. PCS was evaluated at 2 weeks and long-term evaluations (mean = 2.90 years) after MTBI. In addition, cognitive functions, which include memory, executive function, and information processing, and emotional disturbances, which include depression, anxiety, and irritability, were also examined at 2-week postinjury. RESULTS: Patients reported significantly more PCS at 2-week postinjury than healthy participants did, but PCS significantly improved at long-term evaluations when comparing with PCS at acute stage after MTBI. Both of PCS at 2 weeks and long-term evaluations can be further subdivided into subgroups based on the severity of PCS, in which specific PCS (e.g., fatigue, loss of energy, insomnia, slowness of information processing, irritability, and blurred vision) can be well differentiated among subgroups at long-term evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: This study directly showed the characteristics of long-term PCS and associating factors. It further evidenced that specific physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms might be determinant to identify the subgroups of patients with long-term PCS endorsement.
OBJECTIVE: Postconcussion symptoms (PCS) are commonly reported by patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Although PCS significantly recovered by 3-month postinjury, a number of patients still experienced persistent PCS for >1 year. As few researchers investigated long-term PCS endorsement, the present study thus aims to show the latent structure of long-term PCS and further uncover its associating factors. METHODS: In total, 110 patients with MTBI and 32 healthy participants were prospectively enrolled. PCS was evaluated at 2 weeks and long-term evaluations (mean = 2.90 years) after MTBI. In addition, cognitive functions, which include memory, executive function, and information processing, and emotional disturbances, which include depression, anxiety, and irritability, were also examined at 2-week postinjury. RESULTS:Patients reported significantly more PCS at 2-week postinjury than healthy participants did, but PCS significantly improved at long-term evaluations when comparing with PCS at acute stage after MTBI. Both of PCS at 2 weeks and long-term evaluations can be further subdivided into subgroups based on the severity of PCS, in which specific PCS (e.g., fatigue, loss of energy, insomnia, slowness of information processing, irritability, and blurred vision) can be well differentiated among subgroups at long-term evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: This study directly showed the characteristics of long-term PCS and associating factors. It further evidenced that specific physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms might be determinant to identify the subgroups of patients with long-term PCS endorsement.
Authors: Carrie Esopenko; Nicola L de Souza; Yuane Jia; J Scott Parrott; Tricia L Merkley; Emily L Dennis; Frank G Hillary; Carmen Velez; Douglas B Cooper; Jan Kennedy; Jeffrey Lewis; Gerald York; Deleene S Menefee; Stephen R McCauley; Amy O Bowles; Elisabeth A Wilde; David F Tate Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2022-04-21 Impact factor: 3.117