Living status and multidomain clinical outcomes in adults following acute mild traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of living status in multidomain clinical outcomes in adults following acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHODS: Adults presenting to emergency departments or a specialty concussion clinic within < 72 hours (h) of mTBI were enrolled. Multidomain clinical measures (e.g. Concussion Clinical Profile Screen [CP Screen], Patient Health Questionnaire 9 [PHQ-9], Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist [PCL-5], Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]) were collected at <72 h and 10 days (d) post-injury. Participants were grouped by living status: alone (Alone), with a spouse/significant other/roommate (Cohabitant), or with a partner and children/extended family (Family). Two-way mixed-effects models evaluated the interaction of group and time on clinical outcomes. RESULTS: > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adults living alone demonstrated a significant increase in cognitive/fatigue, depression, and stress-related symptoms from <72 h to 10d post-mTBI compared to those living with a cohabitant/family.