Citation

de Koning ME, Scheenen ME, van der Horn HJ, Spikman JM, van der Naalt J. Brain Inj. 2018; 32(5): 540-543.

Affiliation

a Department of Neurology , University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2018.1431844

PMID

29388851

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study, as part of the UPFRONT-study, aimed to study the patients that report zero complaints early after injury, a group that we named the 'fortunate few'. We focused on their demographic, clinical and premorbid characteristics, and examined whether they would remain asymptomatic. Moreover, we investigated the influence of anxiety and depression (HADS), and determined outcome (GOS-E) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) 1 year after injury.

METHODS: Patients with MTBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15), without complaints 2 weeks after injury were included. Follow-up took place at 3, 6 and 12 months after injury.

RESULTS: Of the entire UPFRONT-cohort (n = 1151), 10% (n = 119) reported zero complaints 2 weeks after injury. More than half of these patients (57%) developed complaints at a later stage (M = 2, p < .001). Patients with secondary complaints had higher anxiety (p = .004) and depression (p = .002) scores, leading to less favourable outcome (p = .014) and a lower quality of life (p = .006) 1 year after injury compared to patients that remained asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION: One in 10 patients with mTBI report zero complaints early after injury. Although they seem fully recovered early after injury, a substantial part may develop secondary complaints leading to less favourable outcome and lower quality of life, warranting further research of this interesting group.

Language: en

Keywords

Traumatic brain injury; hospital anxiety and depression scale; outcome; posttraumatic complaints