Some Female Brain Injury Patients at Higher Risk of Long-Term Symptoms
A study was conducted by the University of California on age and sex and its influence on symptoms related to mild traumatic brain injury. The results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on April 6. The conclusion was that female patients required education about the increased risk of a longer recovery and persistent symptoms following a TBI. The study discovered that being female carried a higher risk of continued symptoms following a TBI, which should be taken into account by physicians when triaging patients for their follow-ups.
Not All Female Age Groups Are Found Affected by Somatic Symptoms
Although post-concussion syndrome was found to be the highest in the 35 to 49-year-old age group, more study was recommended to identify the correlative mechanism and corroborate the study’s findings. There were 2,000 participants in the study who were given the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire one year after their brain injury. The object of the study was to identify differences in recovery from symptoms between men and women.
The Hypothesis of the Brain Injury Study
The hypothesis of the study was that post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression might be worse in females than in males who had suffered a TBI. Additionally, it was thought that these symptoms would arise more in the TBI study than in the control group, which was made up of those with orthopedic injuries. The rationale in comparing these two groups was that symptoms of PTSD can be more nonspecific and could possibly occur after an injury to another part of the body.
In the female study group, participants were sorted into age groups of (16-34), (35-49) and (50+). The reason was based on the presence of female sex hormones, which begin to decline at about age 35 until the age of menopause, which has a median of 51. The reason the groups were divided this way was to see if female hormone levels affected the recovery from a TBI. Women who were in the middle age group might show symptoms consistent with hormonal changes and psychosocial factors.
Incidence of TBI and Recovery Problems
Almost 3 million TBI cases occur in the United States each year, and around 85 percent of these are mild. Of studies conducted, 60 percent report that postconcussion and emotional symptoms are more severe among women, and the outcomes are worse. This study was aimed at seeing whether women who had suffered a TBI might require additional care afterward.
What Was Studied in the Questionnaire
Sixteen items were included in the questionnaire, and patients were asked to rate their symptoms over the past week using a range of zero to 64. The analysis was divided into the following domains:
- Cognitive symptoms, including forgetfulness or problems concentrating
- Somatic symptoms, including fatigue, headache, and dizziness
- Emotional symptoms, including depression, frustration, and irritability.
What the Brain Injury Study Showed
The conclusion reached by the study showed that females were more likely than males to experience persistent TBI somatic and cognitive symptoms, while no difference in symptoms was exhibited in the control group, which was the orthopedic study. Symptoms were more likely to occur in women from ages 35 to 49 than in other ages. The results suggested that clinical management following a TBI should consider age and sex, especially since some women are predisposed to chronic symptoms as much as a year after the brain injury.
Nevada City Brain Injury Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Nevada City brain injury lawyer. Traumatic brain injuries are often serious and require long hospitalization and medical care that continues into the future. When a negligent driver or other entity was the cause, you may be entitled to compensation. I’m honored to offer you free, friendly advice when you contact me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also connect with me by sending a message online.
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My legal team and I have helped Nevada City and other Northern Californians since 1982 in obtaining compensation for their traffic collisions, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful deaths, and other types of claims.
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