Is there a sex difference in the course following traumatic brain injury?

Biol Res Nurs. 2004 Apr;5(4):299-310. doi: 10.1177/1099800404263050.

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of death and disability in the United States. Sex has not been thoroughly examined as a factor that may influence outcome following TBI. Clinical studies involving humans that have focused on sex and TBI outcome have yielded inconclusive results, yet sex-related physiologic differences have been demonstrated in animal studies. The purpose of this study is to examine the interaction of sex and age in relation to outcome at 3 and 6 months postinjury in a population of individuals with TBI. The sample includes 157 subjects (124 males, 33 females), 16 to 89 years of age, admitted to a level 1 trauma center following TBI. Physiologic data and information about injury severity and clinical course were gathered during hospitalization. Outcome was assessed at 3 and 6 months postinjury using the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) and Functional Status Examination (FSE). In this sample, there was a significant relationship between sex and age with respect to functional outcome at 6 months following TBI, controlling for initial injury severity. Females age 30 years or older had significantly poorer outcome as measured by the GOSE (P = 0.031) and the FSE (P = 0.037) than either males or younger females. There was also a very different rate of recovery, with women age 30 years and older, on average, showing no improvement between 3 and 6 months postinjury. Further study is needed to elucidate the reasons why sex may affect outcome following TBI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Injuries / epidemiology
  • Brain Injuries / mortality
  • Brain Injuries / rehabilitation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recovery of Function*
  • Sex Factors
  • Survival Rate
  • Trauma Severity Indices
  • United States / epidemiology