|
Abstract
|
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the persistence of symptoms of the PCS in Veterans with TBI versus controls at long term follow-up 2-11 years after TBI.
BACKGROUND: For Veterans with Deployment-related TBI (DTBI), there is very little data available on the presence of symptoms of the PCS beyond 2 years after the injury.
METHODS: This is a controlled cohort study of 85 Veterans with DTBI (TBIS) who were 2-11 years beyond TBI compared to Veterans without TBI (CS) who were matched by age, sex, race and time of deployment. All TBIS and CS were administered the same questionnaires which dealt with PCS symptoms of: Headache (HA), Dizziness (Dz), Vertigo (Vrt), Balance Difficulty (BD), Poor Coordination (PC), Forgetfulness (Fg), and Difficulty with Decisions (DD). These were graded on a scale of None (N), Mild/Moderate (M/M), and Severe/Very Severe (S/VS). Depression was measured with the Beck inventory (BDI-2). Comparisons were done with the Chi Square test.
RESULTS: For symptoms of Dz, BD and PC, these were reported these at S/VS level in 13-17[percnt] of TBIS and 1-3.6[percnt] of CS. The symptom was absent in 8-18[percnt]of TBIS and in 58-70[percnt] of CS. For Vertigo, 43[percnt]of TBIS had M/M, and 11[percnt] S/VS Vrt, while in CS, 17[percnt] had M/M and none had SVS problem. Fg and DD were noted at the S/VS level in 75[percnt] and 34[percnt] of TBIS and in 13[percnt] and 4[percnt] of CS. S/VS HA (≥10 days/mo.) occurred in 75[percnt] of TBIS and in 17[percnt] of CS. Depression was moderate in 27[percnt] of TBIS and 14[percnt] of CS, and was severe in 42[percnt] of TBIS and 6[percnt] of CS. All comparisons of TBIS vs CS were significant at p<.0001.
CONCLUSIONS he D-TBI produces long term symptomatology which can cause ongoing morbidity for the Veteran with little improvement over long term follow-up.
Disclosure: Dr. Couch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stewart has nothing to disclose. (p3.328)
Language: en |