Study of Quality of Life in Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective To assess quality of life (QOL) in individuals with mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their relationship with demographic, posttraumatic insomnia, and injury-related factors.

Method The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted at Sawai Man Singh Medical College and group of hospitals over a period of 6 months from January 2013 to June 2013. The groups studied consists of 204 patients of mild and moderate TBI between 14 days and 1 year postinjury and equal number of controls by recruiting close relatives of the patients for comparison. Patients were assessed on semistructured sociodemographic proforma along with WHOQOL BREF, insomnia severity index, and GCS to assess QOL, insomnia, and severity of TBI, respectively.

Result The number of participants included was 204. Mean age was 33.34 years. QOL was found impaired in all four domains of patients with TBI as compared with control group. The most unsatisfying domain among all was environmental health. None of the sociodemographic variables were associated with impaired QOL in TBI except duration and severity of head injury. Patients with longer duration (time since injury) of TBI and higher GCS had better QOL. Patients with insomnia had significantly poor QOL compared with those with TBI without insomnia.

Conclusion QOL is an important aspect to be considered while management of TBI is performed especially during follow-ups. Impact of severity and the duration of injury with associated sleep problems have significant bearing on QOL.

Keywords

quality of life - insomnia - traumatic brain injury

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