Why Do Some Veterans Have Persistent Headaches Years After Traumatic Brain Injury?

Risk factors for the presence and type of persistent headache after mild-to-moderate TBI in veterans include duration of mental status changes at the time of injury, helmet wearing, and type of and time since multiple TBIs, especially blasts.

Predictors of persistent posttraumatic headache after traumatic brain injury (TBI) include sex; cognitive effects at the time of injury, including post traumatic amnesia (PTA) and/or alterations or loss of consciousness (AOC/LOC); and neurobehavioral comorbidities pre-, peri-, or post injury. In this cross-sectional, retrospective chart review of 594 veterans referred for TBI evaluations between 2011 and 2021, the primary endpoints were headache occurrence and characteristics. Variables included TBI number, type, severity, and associated LOC/AOC/PTA. Findings, including diagnoses and comorbid conditions, were determined by specialist review.

The cohort was overwhelmingly male; mean age was 34. TBI occurred in 405 veterans an average of 6 yea…

Reviewing Author

Alan G Finkel, MD, FAAN, FAHS

Why Do Some Veterans Have Persistent Headaches Years After Traumatic Brain Injury?

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Reviewing Author