Journal of Clinical Medicine (May 2024)

Good Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Patients One Year after mTBI despite Incomplete Recovery: An Indication of the Disability Paradox?

  • Sophie M. Coffeng,
  • Amaal Eman Abdulle,
  • Harm J. van der Horn,
  • Myrthe E. de Koning,
  • Jan C. ter Maaten,
  • Jacoba M. Spikman,
  • Joukje van der Naalt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13092655
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 9
p. 2655

Abstract

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Background: Older adults (OAs) with mild traumatic brain injury (OA-mTBI) are a growing population, but studies on long-term outcomes and quality of life are scarce. Our aim was to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in OA-mTBI one year after injury and to assess the early predictors of HRQoL. Methods: Data from a prospective follow-up study of 164 older (≥60 years) and 289 younger mTBI patients (Results: One year post-injury, 80% (n = 131) of the OA-mTBI rated their HRQoL as “good” or “very good”, which was comparable to younger patients (79% (n = 226), p = 0.72). Incomplete recovery (GOSE p = 0.01). In the multivariable analyses, only depression-related symptoms (OR = 1.20 for each symptom, 95% CI = 1.01–1.34, p Conclusions: Similar to younger patients, most OA-mTBI rated their HRQoL as good at one year after injury, although a considerable proportion showed incomplete recovery according to the GOSE, suggesting a disability paradox. Depression-related symptoms emerged as a significant predictor for poor HRQoL and can be identified as an early target for treatment after mTBI.

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