The results of this systematic review identify the consistent and prevalent indicators of concussion and their associations , derived from the strongest evidence in the published literature .
BACKGROUND Currently , there is no evidence -based definition for concussion that is being uniformly applied in clinical and research setting s. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the highest- quality literature about concussion and to assemble evidence about the prevalence and associations of key indicators of concussion .
The goal was to establish an evidence -based foundation from which to derive , in future work , a definition , diagnostic criteria , and prognostic indicators for concussion .
Early predictors of postconcussive syndrome in a population of trauma patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
PURPOSE The purpose of this analysis was to determine which of the initial symptoms after  mild traumatic brain injury ( MTBI ) can best predict the development of persistent postconcussive syndrome ( PCS ) . METHODS One hundred eighty MTBI patients admitted to a level I trauma center were enrolled in a prospect i ve study and 110 followed for 3 months . MTBI was defined as a Glasgow Coma Score of 13 to 15 with a transient loss of consciousness or report of being dazed or confused . PCS was defined as the persistence of four or more symptoms long term . Patients were screened at admission and at 3 days to 10 days and 3 months .  Symptom checklists  were administered to ascertain the presence of symptoms ( cognitive , emotional , and physical ) after concussion . For a subset of patients that were physically able , balance tests were also conducted . Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify which symptoms best predicted PCS . RESULTS The mean age of the subjects was 35 years , and 65 % were men .  Physical symptoms were the most prevalent in the 3 days to 10 days postinjury with most declining thereafter to baseline levels . Emotional and cognitive symptoms were less prevalent but more likely to remain elevated at 3 months ; 41.8 % of subjects reported PCS at 3 months . The strongest individual symptoms that predicted long-term PCS included anxiety , noise sensitivity ( NS ) , and trouble thinking ; reported by 49 % , 27 % , and 31 % of the subjects at 3 days to 10 days , respectively . In multivariate regressions including age , gender , and early symptoms , only anxiety , NS and gender remained significant in the prediction of PCS . Interactions revealed that the effect of anxiety was seen primarily among women . NS had an odds ratio of 3.1 for PCS at 3 months . CONCLUSIONS After MTBI , anxiety among women and NS are important predictors of PCS . Other physical symptoms , while more prevalent are poor predictors of PCS
The results of this systematic review identify the consistent and prevalent indicators of concussion and their associations , derived from the strongest evidence in the published literature .
BACKGROUND Currently , there is no evidence -based definition for concussion that is being uniformly applied in clinical and research setting s. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the highest- quality literature about concussion and to assemble evidence about the prevalence and associations of key indicators of concussion .
The goal was to establish an evidence -based foundation from which to derive , in future work , a definition , diagnostic criteria , and prognostic indicators for concussion .