Data from: Prevalence of disability associated with head injury with loss of consciousness: a population-based study

Objective: To provide nationally representative prevalence estimates of
disability associated with prior head injury with loss of consciousness in
the U.S. and to examine associations between prior head injury and
disability. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 7,390 participants
aged ³40 years in the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition
Examination Surveys (NHANES). Head injury with loss of
consciousness was assessed by self-report. Domains of disability were
assessed using a standardized structured questionnaire and measured grip
strength. Logistic regression models adjusted for demographic,
socioeconomic/behavioral, and medical comorbidity variables were used.
Multiple imputation was used to account for missing covariate data.
Results: Mean age of participants was 58 years, 53% were female, 71% were
non-Hispanic white, and 16% had a history of head injury. Overall,
participants with a history of head injury had higher prevalence of
disability in at least one domain of functioning compared to individuals
without a history of head injury (47.4% versus 38.6%, p<0.001),
with the highest prevalence of disability in the domains of mobility and
work productivity. In fully adjusted models, head injury was
significantly positively associated with disability in all domains
assessed on the standardized questionnaire (all
p<0.05), but not with upper extremity grip strength (all
p>0.05). Conclusions: 47.4% of individuals aged ≥40 years
in the U.S with a history of head injury are living with disability in at
least one domain of functioning, corresponding to approximately 11.4
million affected individuals. This significant burden of disability
suggests that efforts are needed to improve functioning among individuals
with head injury.