A Survey of Very-Long-Term Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury among Members of a Population-Based Incident Cohort
- 1 February 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc in Journal of Neurotrauma
- Vol. 28 (2), 167-176
- https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2010.1400
Abstract
To assess quality of life and barriers to participation in vocational and community life for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) over the very-long term, a population-based cohort was identified in Olmsted County, Minnesota; 1623 individuals were identified as having experienced a confirmed TBI while a resident of Olmsted County, Minnesota, during the period from 1935–2000. A survey was sent to eligible individuals that included elements of standardized instruments addressing health status and disability, and questions that assessed issues important to successful social reintegration after TBI. Of 1623 eligible participants sent surveys, 605 responded (37% response rate). Thirty-nine percent of respondents were female and 79% had mild injuries. Mean age at injury was 30.8 years, and mean years since injury was 28.8. Overall, respondents reported living in the community; the majority were married and had achieved education beyond high school. Problems with memory, thinking, and physical and emotional health were most often reported. Respondents reported low levels of depression and anxiety, and high levels of satisfaction with life. Seventy-three percent of respondents reported no problems that they attributed to their TBI. Increasing injury severity was associated with a significant risk of reporting injury-related problems at survey completion. Respondents with a longer time since injury were less likely to report any TBI-related problems. These results indicate that self-reported outcomes and adaptation to impairment-related limitations improve as the time since injury increases. These findings highlight the importance of providing coordinated medical rehabilitation and community-based support services to promote positive outcomes over the life span after TBI.Keywords
This publication has 53 references indexed in Scilit:
- Impact of Age on Long-Term Recovery From Traumatic Brain InjuryArchives Of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2008
- Long-term outcome of serious traumatic brain injuryEuropean Journal of Anaesthesiology, 2008
- Relative Risk of Mortality after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Population-Based Study of The Role of Age And Injury SeverityJournal of Neurotrauma, 2007
- Long-term effect of head trauma on intellectual abilities: a 16-year outcome studyJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2006
- Long term outcomes after moderate to severe traumatic brain injuryDisability and Rehabilitation, 2004
- Psychosocial adjustment and employment outcome 2, 5 and 10 years after TBIBrain Injury, 2004
- The Threat to Medical-Records ResearchNew England Journal of Medicine, 1997
- The Disablement Experienced by Traumatically Brain-Injured Adults Living in the CommunityBrain Injury, 1995
- Recovery of function following severe traumatic brain injury: A retrospective 10-year follow-upBrain Injury, 1995
- Incidence of Skull Fractures in Olmsted County, MinnesotaNeurosurgery, 1984