Citation

Albrecht JS, Barbour L, Abariga SA, Rao V, Perfetto EM. J. Neurotrauma 2019; 36(2): 300-307.

Affiliation

Univeristy of Maryland, Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, Baltimore, Maryland, United States ; eperfetto@rx.umaryland.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2017.5608

PMID

29808770

Abstract

Depression is associated with poorer recover following traumatic brain injury (TBI) yet awareness of depression risk post-TBI among providers and patients is low. The objective of this study was to estimate risk of depression post-TBI among adults aged 18 and older and to identify risk factors associated with developing depression following TBI. We conducted a retrospective, matched cohort study using claims data for privately insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees in a large U.S. health plan. Adults ≥18 years diagnosed with TBI (n= 207,354) with 12 months continuous insurance coverage pre-TBI and 24 months post-TBI were matched to controls without TBI (n=414,708). We identified the presence of depression on any inpatient or outpatient claim occurring during the study period (both before and after TBI). Of the initial 622,062 individuals, 62,963 (10%) had depression pre-TBI and were excluded from incidence calculations. Incidence of depression following TBI was 79.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 78.5,80.5) per 1,000 person-years compared to 33.5 (95% CI 33.1,34.0) per 1,000 person-years for those without TBI. The adjusted hazard ratio for depression following TBI was 1.83 (95% CI 1.79,1.86). We observed effect modification by sex and age, with males and older adults at increased risk. History of neuropsychiatric disturbances pre-TBI was the strongest predictor of depression post-TBI. Risk of depression increases substantially after TBI. Groups at increased risk include those with a history of neuropsychiatric disturbances, older adults, and men. This study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring for depression following TBI.

Language: en

Keywords

EPIDEMIOLOGY; NEUROPSYCHOLOGY; TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY