Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC) multicentre study interim analysis: Differences between participants with positive versus negative mild TBI histories

ABSTRACTObjectives: Compare characteristics and outcomes of combat-exposed military personnel with positive versus negative mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) histories.Setting: Recruitment was from registration lists and ambulatory clinics at four veterans administration hospitals.Participants: Consented veterans and service members completing initial evaluation by September 2016 (n = 492).Design: Observational with cross-sectional analyses.Main measures: Multimodal assessments including structured interviews, record review, questionnaires, neuroendocrine labs and neurocognitive and sensorimotor performance.Results: In unadjusted comparisons to those absent lifetime mTBI, the mTBI positive group (84%) had greater combat exposure, more potential concussive events, less social support and more comorbidities, including asthma, sleeping problems and post-traumatic stress disorder. They also fared worse on all sensory and pain symptom scores and self-reported functional and global outcomes. They had poorer sc...