A new Curtin University study has found almost half of people who experience a concussion still experience problems a year later, while also revealing which factors put patients most at risk of long-term symptoms.

The Concussion Recovery Study followed 232 adults aged 18-65 who had sustained a concussion and found 45.6 per cent still reported symptoms 12 months after their injury.

Ongoing effects included fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headaches, dizziness, memory problems, sensitivity to noise and light, balance issues, irritability and more.

Published in PLOS One, the research identified the strongest predictors of long-term symptoms, while also challenging commonly held assumptions about what leads to prolonged issues.

Study author Dr Jacinta Thorne, from the Curtin Medical Research Institute, said participants who reported severe symptoms in the days after their concussion were almost three times more likely to still be experiencing symptoms a year later.

Feeling slow, mentally foggy or nervous in the days immediately following injury were important warning signs that someone may need closer monitoring and support during recovery.


Dr. Jacinta Thorne, Curtin Medical Research Institute

However, researchers also found initial indicators of injury severity don’t necessarily lead to a longer recovery.

“We found no evidence that loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia or whether a patient received a CT scan predicted who would experience persistent symptoms a year later,” Dr Thorne said.

“That tells us it’s not always the injury that appears most serious at the time that leads to the poorest recovery.

“Instead, what people are feeling and experiencing in the days immediately after the injury appears to be far more important than traditional markers of injury severity.”

The study also revealed other risk factors for long-term recovery in people with:

 


History of mental health conditions – 2.6 times more likely to experience symptoms after 12 months
Pre-existing sleep disorders – 5.1 times more likely at 12 months
Concussion from a non-sport injury – 2.5 times more likely at 12 months

Dr Thorne said this showed recovery was about much more than the initial injury.

“People who already live with sleep difficulties or mental health challenges may have fewer reserves to draw on during recovery, while non-sport injuries are often associated with events such as falls, assaults and vehicle crashes that can bring additional physical or psychological stress,” Dr Thorne said.

Researchers found despite the high numbers of participants who still experienced symptoms after 12 months, 97 per cent had returned to work within a year of their injury.

Co-author Dr Jemma Keeves, also from Curtin Medical Research Institute, said this showed returning to work didn’t mean someone had recovered.

“Our findings suggest many people continue working despite ongoing fatigue, concentration difficulties and other symptoms,” Dr Keeves said.

“The good news is that identifying all of these risk factors early gives clinicians an opportunity to provide more targeted follow-up and support for the people most likely to experience ongoing symptoms and help them maintain a better quality of life.”

Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia CEO Naomi Fuller said the study highlighted why concussion research was so important.

“This work shows that many Australians are living with symptoms long after they sustain a concussion,” Ms Fuller said.

“Concussion recovery can look different for everyone and we are increasingly understanding the effects that these long-term symptoms have on different aspects of people’s lives.

“We hear a lot about sports concussion in the media, but as this study showed, concussion from non-sporting causes is also prevalent within the community and can have long-term consequences.”