Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population
Abstract Background Headache is one of the most common post-concussion symptoms following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). To better understand its impact on young individuals, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of headache in a German-speaking post-acute pediatric TBI sample and c...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-01951-2 |
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| author | Marina Zeldovich Leonie Krol Katrin Cunitz Christian Auer Daniel Pinggera Victoria Schön Philipp Geiger Joachim Suss Inga K. Koerte Emilie Isager Howe Nada Andelic Anna Buchheim Matthias Gondan Nicole von Steinbüchel |
| author_facet | Marina Zeldovich Leonie Krol Katrin Cunitz Christian Auer Daniel Pinggera Victoria Schön Philipp Geiger Joachim Suss Inga K. Koerte Emilie Isager Howe Nada Andelic Anna Buchheim Matthias Gondan Nicole von Steinbüchel |
| author_sort | Marina Zeldovich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Headache is one of the most common post-concussion symptoms following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). To better understand its impact on young individuals, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of headache in a German-speaking post-acute pediatric TBI sample and compare it with the general population. In addition, factors associated with the development of pediatric post-TBI headache are investigated to improve the understanding of this condition. Methods A post-acute sample (3 months up to 10 years post-injury) comprising N = 463 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years from the TBI sample and N = 463 individuals from the general population matched for gender, age, and health status were included in the study. The Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) item assessing headache was used as the outcome variable. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between the risk of developing headache and sociodemographic and health-related factors. Results Slightly less than half of the participants reported the presence of headache (TBI sample: 46%; matched controls: 44%). Compared with matched controls, the odds of headache in the TBI sample were not significantly different (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.4, p = 0.49). The association between PCSI symptoms was generally stronger in adolescents than in children and in the matched controls than in the TBI sample. In the TBI sample, the probability of reporting headache increased with age. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of headache in the post-acute phase of pediatric TBI is not significantly different from that in the matched non-TBI population, indicating good recovery from injury. However, due to its high prevalence, follow-up screening for this common TBI symptom, especially in adolescents, may be helpful to prevent further chronification. Trial registration The study is retrospectively registered in German Clinical Trials Register and in International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ID DRKS00032854). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a5af1a03e04405abb1e81d3599e3889 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1129-2377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a5af1a03e04405abb1e81d3599e38892025-02-02T12:34:42ZengBMCThe Journal of Headache and Pain1129-23772025-01-0126111010.1186/s10194-025-01951-2Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general populationMarina Zeldovich0Leonie Krol1Katrin Cunitz2Christian Auer3Daniel Pinggera4Victoria Schön5Philipp Geiger6Joachim Suss7Inga K. Koerte8Emilie Isager Howe9Nada Andelic10Anna Buchheim11Matthias Gondan12Nicole von Steinbüchel13Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of MarburgDepartment of Psychology, University of InnsbruckDepartment of Neurosurgery, Kepler University Hospital GmbH, Johannes Kepler University LinzDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University InnsbruckDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University InnsbruckDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University InnsbruckDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Wilhelmstift Catholic Children’s HospitalcBRAIN / Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian UniversityDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University HospitalDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University HospitalDepartment of Psychology, University of InnsbruckDepartment of Psychology, University of InnsbruckDepartment of Psychology, University of InnsbruckAbstract Background Headache is one of the most common post-concussion symptoms following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). To better understand its impact on young individuals, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of headache in a German-speaking post-acute pediatric TBI sample and compare it with the general population. In addition, factors associated with the development of pediatric post-TBI headache are investigated to improve the understanding of this condition. Methods A post-acute sample (3 months up to 10 years post-injury) comprising N = 463 children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years from the TBI sample and N = 463 individuals from the general population matched for gender, age, and health status were included in the study. The Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) item assessing headache was used as the outcome variable. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between the risk of developing headache and sociodemographic and health-related factors. Results Slightly less than half of the participants reported the presence of headache (TBI sample: 46%; matched controls: 44%). Compared with matched controls, the odds of headache in the TBI sample were not significantly different (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.4, p = 0.49). The association between PCSI symptoms was generally stronger in adolescents than in children and in the matched controls than in the TBI sample. In the TBI sample, the probability of reporting headache increased with age. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of headache in the post-acute phase of pediatric TBI is not significantly different from that in the matched non-TBI population, indicating good recovery from injury. However, due to its high prevalence, follow-up screening for this common TBI symptom, especially in adolescents, may be helpful to prevent further chronification. Trial registration The study is retrospectively registered in German Clinical Trials Register and in International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ID DRKS00032854).https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-01951-2Post-traumatic headache; pediatric traumatic brain injury; Postconcussion Symptom Inventory; general pediatric population |
| spellingShingle | Marina Zeldovich Leonie Krol Katrin Cunitz Christian Auer Daniel Pinggera Victoria Schön Philipp Geiger Joachim Suss Inga K. Koerte Emilie Isager Howe Nada Andelic Anna Buchheim Matthias Gondan Nicole von Steinbüchel Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population The Journal of Headache and Pain Post-traumatic headache; pediatric traumatic brain injury; Postconcussion Symptom Inventory; general pediatric population |
| title | Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population |
| title_full | Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population |
| title_fullStr | Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population |
| title_short | Headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a comparison between a post-acute sample of children and adolescents and general population |
| title_sort | headache after pediatric traumatic brain injury a comparison between a post acute sample of children and adolescents and general population |
| topic | Post-traumatic headache; pediatric traumatic brain injury; Postconcussion Symptom Inventory; general pediatric population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-01951-2 |
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