Health-related quality of life 3 years after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the time course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to identify its predictors. Design Prospective cohort study with follow-up measurements at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after TBI. Setting Patients with moderate to severe TBI discharged from 3 level-1 trauma centers. Participants Patients (N=97, 72% men) with a mean age ± SD of 32.8±13.0 years (range, 18-65y), hospitalized with moderate (23%) or severe (77%) TBI. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures HRQoL was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), functional outcomes with the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), Barthel Index, FIM, and Functional Assessment Measure, and mood with the Wimbledon Self-Report Scale. Results The SF-36 domains showed significant improvement over time for Physical Functioning (P