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Updated: Feb 15, 2026
Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Early Predictors for Long-Term Functional Outcome After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Frail Elderly Patients
Amaal Eman Abdulle1, Myrthe E de Koning, Harm J van der Horn
1Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands (Mss Eman Abdulle and de Koning, Mr van der Horn, and Dr van der Naalt); Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands (Mr Scheenen and Dr Spikman); Department of Neurology, Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands (Dr Roks); and Department of Neurology, Hospital Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands (Dr Hageman).
Objective:
To identify the effect of frailty and early postinjury measures on the long-term outcome after mild traumatic brain injury in elderly patients.
Setting:
Patients admitted to 3 Dutch hospitals designated as level 1 trauma centers.
Participants:
The elderly (≥60 years) with mild traumatic brain injury (N = 161).
Design:
A prospective observational cohort study.
Main Measures:
Posttraumatic complaints and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale determined 2 weeks postinjury; the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended and Groningen frailty indicator determined 1 to 3 years postinjury.
Results:
A total of 102 nonfrail (63%) and 59 frail elderly (37%) patients, mean age of 70.8 (6.3) years were included. Most patients (54%; 72% nonfrail and 24% frail) recovered completely 1 to 3 years postinjury. Two weeks postinjury, 81% had posttraumatic complaints (83% frail and 80% nonfrail elderly), and 30% showed emotional distress (50% frail and 20% nonfrail). Frailty (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-2.77) and presence of early complaints (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.27) (Nagelkerke R = 46%) were found to predict long-term outcome, whereas age was not a significant predictor.
Conclusion:
The frail elderly had worse long-term outcome, and early complaints were found to be a stronger predictor of unfavorable outcome than age. Understanding the implications of frailty on outcome could help clinicians recognize patients at risk of a poor outcome and allocate care more efficiently.
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