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 f...