MONDAY, Jan. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Female patients with a concussion-related emergency department visit have an increased risk for comorbid neck injury, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in the Journal of Women’s Health.

Mitchell Sutton, from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network in Toronto, and colleagues identified all patients with a first concussion-related emergency department visit between fiscal years 2002-2003 and 2011-2012. Age-dependent odds ratios of comorbid neck injury were estimated for sex, with adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics.

The researchers found that the odds of sustaining a comorbid neck injury were increased for female patients with a concussion between ages 5 and 49 years for all concussion-related emergency department visits, ages 15 to 49 years for motor vehicle collision-related concussion emergency department visits, and ages 10 to 39 years for sports-related concussion emergency department visits.

“The results of this study suggest that the biological differences between males and females, which determine the risk of comorbid neck injury, are age-dependent,” the authors write. “This study showed a clear interaction between age and sex and, therefore, it is crucial to consider linear and nonlinear sex and age interactions across the life span of patients in future studies on concussions.”

Abstract/Full Text

Copyright © 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
healthday

Author