• Yvonn Kraemer, Kaisa Mäki, Ivan Marinkovic, Taina Nybo, Harri Isokuortti, Antti Huovinen, Antti Korvenoja, Susanna Melkas, and Hanna Harno.
• Department of Neurology, Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. yvonn.kraemer@helsinki.fi.
• J Headache Pain. 2022 Feb 19; 23 (1): 27.

BackgroundPost-traumatic headache (PTH) is a common symptom following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Patients at risk to develop acute PTH (aPTH) and further persistent PTH (pPTH) need to be recognized.MethodsThis is a one-year follow-up of 127 patients with mTBI, aged 18 to 68, referred to outpatient clinic in the Helsinki University Hospital. Symptoms were assessed at the emergency department (ED), with structured interview at outpatient clinic visit and with Rivermead post-concussion symptom questionnaire at one, three, and 12 months after injury. Psychiatric disorders were assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders at 3-4 months and return to work (RTW) from patient records.ResultsAt one month, 77/127 patients (61%) had aPTH. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, risk factors for aPTH were headache at the emergency department (ED) (OR 5.43), other pain (OR 3.19), insomnia (OR 3.23), and vertigo (OR 5.98). At three months, 17 patients (22% of aPTH patients) had developed pPTH, and at one year, 4 patients (24% of pPTH patients) still presented with pPTH. Risk factors for pPTH at three months were older age (OR 1.06) and current insomnia (OR 12.3). The frequency of psychiatric disorders did not differ between the groups. pPTH patients performed worse on their RTW.ConclusionsRisk factors for aPTH were insomnia, headache at ED, other pain, and vertigo and for pPTH, insomnia and older age. RTW rate was lower among pPTH patients.© 2022. The Author(s).

23 keywords...

hide…