Abstract
Objective: To identify prognostic markers associated with poor recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in older adults.
Setting: Three Ontario emergency departments.
Participants: Forty-nine participants aged 65 years and older that visited an emergency department for MTBI.
Design: Pilot prospective cohort study.
Main Measures: Recovery from MTBI determined using the Rivermead Postconcussion symptom Questionnaire, the Glasgow Outcomes Scale-Extended, physical and mental health functioning (SF-12), and a single question on self-rated recovery assessed by telephone shortly after emergency department visit (baseline) and again 6 months later. Predictors were measured at baseline.
Results: Markers potentially associated with poor recovery included reporting worse health 1 year before the injury, poor expectations for recovery, depression, and fatigue.
Conclusion: Recovery after MTBI in older adults may be associated more with psychosocial than with biomedical or injury-related factors.