Can We Predict Which Children Are at Risk for Persistent Postconcussion Syndrome?

Investigators developed a clinical risk score for predicting persistent postconcussion syndrome (PPCS) in a prospective cohort of 3063 children aged 5 to <18 years who were diagnosed with concussion at nine pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in Canada. Diagnostic criteria for concussion included symptoms in at least one of the following clinical domains: somatic, cognitive, emotional/behavioral, or sleep. Patients were diagnosed with PPCS if they had ≥3 new or worsening symptoms on the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory at 28 days.

Of 1701 patients in the derivation cohort and 883 in the validation cohort who completed assessments, 30% and 33%, respectively, were diagnosed with PPCS. Using a multivariable prediction model, the investigators…