Severe or very severe postconcussive symptoms, including sleep difficulties and forgetfulness, persist at 1-year follow-up in service members with mild TBIs, according to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. A significantly greater number of patients with mTBI were more likely to have ≥1 postconcussive symptom at either severe or very severe levels and at all time points (47% vs 21% baseline; adjusted risk ratio [aRR]=1.7; 95% CI, 1.51-1.93; P <.0001). The most frequently reported postconcussive symptoms at baseline for participants who were positive and negative for mTBI included sleeping difficulties, forgetfulness, irritability, and headaches.
Compared with those who were negative for mTBI, those with mTBI had a higher risk for ≥1 severe or very severe baseline Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory symptom (RR=1.94; 95% CI, 1.71-2.19). Additionally, more patients with mTBI had a higher risk for severe or very severe sleep scores at each follow-up compared with patients without mTBI (RR=2.19; 95% CI, 1.83-2.62). Over the 1-year follow-up period, the prevalence of postconcussive symptoms remained constant.