Health-related quality-of-life in the first year following a childhood concussion
1University of Florida College of Nursing , Jacksonville, FL , USA and.
Insights
Children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) showed no significant changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) post-injury. However, those with mild non-brain injuries reported lower physical HRQoL one month after injury.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Rehabilitation medicine
- Health outcomes research
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common in children, with potential impacts on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
- Understanding HRQoL trajectories post-mTBI is crucial for effective management and intervention.
- Comparative studies with non-injured and mild non-brain injured children are needed to contextualize mTBI effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare pre- and post-injury HRQoL in children with mTBI.
- To compare HRQoL among children with mTBI, mild non-brain injuries, and uninjured controls at various time points.
- To assess child and parent perspectives on HRQoL following pediatric injury.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 120 child/parent dyads (ages 5-17).
- Inclusion of three groups: mTBI, mild non-brain injury, and uninjured controls.
- Exclusion of children requiring hospitalization >24 hours; HRQoL assessed using PedsQL Generic Core Scales and Cognitive Functioning Scale.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in HRQoL was observed between pre- and post-injury assessments for children with mTBI.
- Children with mild non-brain injuries reported significantly lower physical HRQoL at 1 month post-injury compared to controls.
- Parental and child reports indicated similar HRQoL trends for the mTBI group across all time points.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric mTBI does not appear to significantly alter overall HRQoL within the first year post-injury.
- Children experiencing mild non-brain injuries may face temporary declines in physical HRQoL.
- Children with mTBI exhibiting significantly lower HRQoL warrant further investigation to identify underlying factors or complications.
Objectives:
(1) To compare pre-injury health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) of children who have sustained mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) to their HRQoL at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-injury and (2) to compare the HRQoL of children with mTBI, children with mild non-brain injuries and children who were uninjured at the same time points. Child and parent responses were obtained for both objectives.
Patients And Methods:
This prospective cohort study involved a self-selected convenience sample to evaluate child and parent perspectives of the HRQoL of 5-17 year old children with mTBI using the PedsQL Generic Core Scales and Cognitive Functioning Scale. Total sample size was 120 child/parent dyads, with 40 dyads each in the study and two control groups. Children who required hospitalization greater than 24 hours were excluded from the study.
Results:
HRQoL of children with mTBI was not significantly different between pre- and post-injury at all-time points. However, children and parents in the mild non-brain injury group reported significantly lower physical HRQoL 1 month post-injury.
Conclusions:
Children with mTBI had similar pre- and post-injury HRQoL. Thus, children who sustain mTBI and have significantly lower HRQoL within the first year post-injury merit further evaluation.
