Association Between Preinjury Symptoms and Postconcussion Symptoms at 4 Weeks in Youth

J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2022 Mar-Apr;37(2):E90-E101. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000681.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether preinjury physical, emotional, cognitive, and sleep symptoms on the Post-Concussion Symptoms Inventory (PCSI) are associated with persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS) at 4 weeks and whether any associations are moderated by sex or age.

Study setting and participants: A total of 3063 participants with acute concussion, presenting to 9 Canadian pediatric emergency departments, were enrolled from August 2013 to June 2015.

Design: A planned secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort study (Predicting Persistent Post-concussive Problems in Pediatrics or 5P). Primary outcome was PPCS at 4 weeks, defined as 3 or more new or worsening individual symptoms compared with the preinjury score at 28 days on the PCSI. The association between preinjury scores and PPCS was analyzed with a multivariable logistic regression analysis that included preinjury, sex, age, sex × preinjury, and age × preinjury interactions as predictors. Missing baseline covariates were imputed.

Results: A total of 2123 (n = 844 [39.8%] girls; median [IQR] age = 12.9 [10.7, 15.0] participants were included in the analysis. Preinjury physical symptom score was associated with PPCS at 4 weeks (χ2 = 13.87, df = 6, P = .031). The preinjury emotional score also contributed to the variability in PPCS (χ2 = 11.79, df = 6, P = .067). While girls reported higher preinjury physical, emotional, and cognitive scores than boys, neither sex nor age interacted with preinjury to predict PPCS at 4 weeks. Independent of age and sex, preinjury physical symptoms were associated with PPCS at 4 weeks (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.15-1.70).

Conclusion: Preinjury physical symptoms are associated with the probability of having PPCS at 4 weeks postconcussion independent of age and sex. Providers should consider preinjury symptoms to inform prognosis and recovery management.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain Concussion* / complications
  • Brain Concussion* / diagnosis
  • Canada
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome* / complications
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies