SAN DIEGO—New or worse headaches may per- sist five years after traumatic brain injury (TBI),
according to results of a prospective study presented
at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American
Headache Society. “Results suggest that ongoing assessment and treatment of headache after TBI is needed as headache remains a potential problem even five
years post injury,” the researchers said.
Headache is one of the most common symptoms in
patients with TBI, but the characteristics of headache
after brain injury are not well defined, and prior estimates of the prevalence of headache after TBI have
been based on retrospective studies.
To assess the natural history and features of headache after TBI, Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at the
University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues
conducted a prospective study in civilian patients
with TBI. Participants were enrolled during inpatient
rehabilitation hospitalizations at seven centers. Researchers conducted follow-up phone interviews with
participants at three, six, 12, and 60 months. One-year follow-up data were published in the Journal of
Neurotrauma in 2011.
The investigators obtained five-year follow-up data for
316 participants. Participants had an average age of 42.
Headaches Persist Five Years
After Traumatic Brain Injury
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