Citation

Brown AW, Moessner AM, Mandrekar JN, Diehl N, Leibson CL, Malec JF. J. Neurotrauma 2011; 28(2): 167-176.

Affiliation

Mayo Clinic, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905, 507-255-3116, 507-255-1625; brown.allen@mayo.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2010.1400

PMID

21121813

PMCID

PMC3064530

Abstract

To assess quality of life and barriers to participation in vocational and community life for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 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 to 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 was married and had achieved education beyond high school. Problems with memory, thinking, 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 they attributed to their TBI. Injury severity was associated with significant risk for 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.

Language: en