Citation

Palmlöf L, Côté P, Holm LW, Carroll LJ, Cassidy JD, Skillgate E. Clin. J. Pain 2014; 31(3): 247-253.

Affiliation

*Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden †Canada Research Chair in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation; Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences and Director UOIT-CMCC Centre for the Study of Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) Oshawam, Ontario ‡Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden §Department of Public Health Sciences and Alberta Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada ∥Institute of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. Division of Health Care and Outcomes Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada ¶Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm, Sweden. Scandinavian College of Naprapathic Manual Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/AJP.0000000000000107

PMID

24810649

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:: The aim of this cohort study was to investigate the association between self-reported cardiovascular disorders (CVD) and recovery from whiplash associated disorder (WAD) after a traffic collision.

METHODS:: This study was based on the Saskatchewan Government Insurance cohort, including individuals over 18 years of age, who made a traffic- injury claim or received health care after a traffic injury, between 1997 and 1999. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and were followed up by telephone interviews at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months post injury. Our sample includes a subcohort of 6011 participants who reported WAD (defined as answering "yes" to the question "Did the accident cause neck or shoulder pain") at baseline. The outcome, self-perceived recovery, was measured at all follow-up interviews. The presence of cardiovascular disorder and its effect on health was classified into three exposure categories; (1) CVD absent, (2) CVD present with no or mild effect on health and (3) CVD present with moderate or severe effect on health. The association between CVD and recovery from WAD was assessed with Cox regression, and adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS:: We found a crude association between comorbid CVD with moderate or severe effect on health in women. However, the adjusted association was weak and potentially affected by residual confounding. We found no association in men.

DISCUSSION:: Our results suggest that CVD does not impact on the recovery of individuals with whiplash-associated disorders.

Language: en