@article{ref1,
title="Cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use during the acute post-concussion period",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2019",
author="Lawrence, David W. and Foster, Evan and Comper, Paul and Langer, Laura and Hutchison, Michael G. and Chandra, Tharshni and Bayley, Mark",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="<b>Objective</b>: To document the prevalence of acute post-concussion cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use and their association with clinical recovery and symptom burden. <b>Methods</b>: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Concussions were physician-diagnosed and presented to the emergency department and concussion clinic within 7 days post-injury. Participants were assessed weekly and followed for a minimum 4 weeks. A survival analysis (using physician-determined recovery to both cognitive and physical activities) in addition to a weekly symptom score analysis was conducted. <b>Results</b>: A total of 307 acute concussions with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD, 13.0) were included. Acute post-concussion cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use were identified in 43 (14.0%), 125 (40.7%) and 61 (19.9%) individuals. Acute cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use were not associated with recovery to cognitive (<i>p</i> >.05) or physical activity (<i>p</i> >.05). Acute cigarette use was associated with a higher unadjusted symptom severity score at week1 (<i>p</i> =.003). Acute cannabis use was associated with lower symptom severity scores at week-3 (<i>p</i> =.061) and week-4 (<i>p</i> =.029). <b>Conclusion</b>: In conclusion, cannabis, alcohol and cigarette use were prevalent in the acute period post-concussion; however, were not observed to impact recovery within the first 4 weeks post-injury. Amongst unrecovered individuals, acute cannabis use was associated with lower symptom burden, while cigarette use was associated with greater initial symptom burden.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.1080/02699052.2019.1679885",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2019.1679885"
}