Deployment-related concussion and long-term health-related quality of life among US military personnel

To examine the relationship between deployment-related concussion and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among injured US military personnel.

The study sample included 810 service members with deployment-related injuries between 2008 and 2012 who responded to a web-based longitudinal health survey. Participants were categorized into three injury groups: concussion with loss of consciousness (LOC; n = 247), concussion without LOC (n = 317), or no concussion (n = 246). HRQoL was measured using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores. Current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms were examined. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the effects of concussion on PCS and MCS scores, while controlling for covariates.

A lower PCS score was observed in participants with concussion with LOC (B =  − 2.65, p = 0.003) compared with those with no history of concussion. Symptoms of PTSD (PCS: B =  − 4.84, p < 0.001; MCS: B =  − 10.53, p < 0.001) and depression (PCS: B =  − 2.85, p < 0.001; MCS: B =  − 10.24, p < 0.001) were the strongest statistically significant predictors of lower HRQoL.

Concussion with LOC was significantly associated with lower HRQoL in the physical domain. These findings affirm that concussion management should integrate physical and psychological care to improve long-term HRQoL and warrant a more detailed examination of causal and mediating mechanisms. Future research should continue to incorporate patient-reported outcomes and long-term follow-up of military service members to further define the lifelong impact of deployment-related concussion.