The Association Between Length of Recovery Following Sport-Related Concussion and Generic and Specific Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescent Athletes: A Prospective, Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine the association between concussion recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

SETTING

Secondary school athletic training facilities.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (N = 122) with a concussion.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal cohort.

MAIN MEASURES

The Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory (PedsQL), PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS), and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) were completed at preseason and days 3 (D3), 10 (D10), and 30 (D30) postconcussion. The independent variable was the recovery group.

RESULTS

Interactions between group and time (P < .001) were noted for all PedsQL subscales, except Social Functioning (P = .75). Significantly lower scores were found among Prolonged than in Short on D3 (P < .05). Significant interactions (P < .001) were also noted for all MFS subscales. Pairwise comparisons for General and Sleep subscales revealed Prolonged had lower scores than Short and Moderate on D3 and D10. A group by time interaction was found for the HIT-6 (P < .001), with scores being higher (P < .01) in Prolonged than in Short on D3 and D10.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with a prolonged recovery demonstrated lower HRQOL in the immediate days postinjury, particularly in physical and school functioning, fatigue, and headache. There was a strong association between recovery length and school functioning. Additional research is needed to understand how to minimize the impact of concussion on HRQOL.