Citation

Cheng C, Chi NC, Williams E, Thompson HJ. Int. J. Older People Nurs. 2018; 13(4): e12208.

Affiliation

Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, Washington.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/opn.12208

PMID

30129175

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in the functional recovery trajectories between younger and older adults with mild-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the first year postinjury as well as health-related quality of life.

DESIGN: Observational cohort. SETTING: Level one trauma centre in the State of Washington. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with mild-moderate TBI (N = 34; younger adults, n = 19, and older adults, n = 15). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional Status Examination (FSE) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL; SF-12v2).

RESULTS: Older adults consistently showed significantly worse functional performance than younger adults following TBI in the following FSE domains: mobility, ability to travel, home maintenance and overall functional status. For both groups, preinjury physical health was significantly correlated with ability to travel and social integration at 12-month postinjury. Older participants' preinjury physical and mental health had significant and negative correlation with their functional status.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides insights and implications into adults' specific functional impairments following TBI, and which domains have persistent deficits. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Early intervention and rehabilitation should focus on improving older adults' physical functioning and mobility. Our study may also inform future research and design of post-TBI interventions for older adults.

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

aged; functional status; head injury; health-related quality of life; recovery