Symptom Recovery and Return to Participation Timelines of Patients With Concussion at a Community Physiotherapy Clinic Based on Injury Mechanism

ObjectiveTo compare patient demographics, injury phase (IP; time-to-assessment), total symptom severity score (TSS) changes and return to participation (RTP; cognitive/physical) to mechanism of injury (MOI).BackgroundSecondary concussion prevention includes timely assessment and treatment to decrease TSS and maximize RTP.Design/MethodsOne community physiotherapy clinic. Retrospective chart review (September 1, 2016–August 8, 2018). Two hundred thirty-four patients with concussion (male: n = 85; female: n = 149) from various MOIs. Age groups (years): children 8–12, youth 13–17, young adult 18–29, adult 30–64, senior 65+. IP: acute (<72 hours), subacute (72 hours-2 weeks adults, 72 hours-4 weeks children/youth), persistent (2 weeks-3 months adults, 4 weeks-3 months children/youth), chronic (>3 months). Intervention: multimodal physiotherapy (cervico-vestibular, exertion, education), referral to specialist, psychology and/or neuropsychology. Outcome measures: treatment (number, timeframe) and weeks to recovery (WTR) vs MOI; TSS changes and RTP rates.ResultsAll acute IP had sport MOI, with WTR consistent with current literature. For all others, WTR was longer regardless of age or MOI. MVC and other MOIs were primarily patients in persistent or chronic IP (80% and 71%, respectively). MVC had the longest recovery (12.28 ± 8.21 treatments over 21.03 weeks 95% CI [17.05, 25.01], 44.94 WTR 95% CI [36.38, 53.51]); p < 0.05). Sport MOI received 5.50 ± 3.62 treatments over 7.49 (95% CI [5.59, 9.40]) weeks and 19.07 (95% CI [13.72, 24.42]) WTR. No significant statistical difference was observed between sport and other MOI recovery. TSS decreased in 85% of all patients. Full cognitive RTP was achieved by 75% of patients, and full physical RTP by 68%.ConclusionsConcussion patients experienced symptom and participation recovery, with IP and MOI related to WTR. Treatment/recovery timeframes were longer than previously reported for subacute, persistent, and chronic IPs. These results will inform secondary prevention strategies and knowledge translation underscoring the need for timely assessment and treatment. It also draws attention to RTP in MOIs other than sport.

P.134 Movement medicine: A systematic review on the effect of early aerobic exercise initiation on symptom recovery following concussion

Background: Mounting evidence supports aerobic exercise as a promising treatment option for individuals experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms beyond four weeks. The purpose of this review was to determine whether initiating structured aerobic exercise within the early period (first two weeks) following concussion affects symptom recovery compared to standard care. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CENTRAL databases, combining keywords: (brain concussion, post-concussion syndrome, mild traumatic brain injury) AND (exercise, exercise therapy, physical activity, kinesiotherapy). Results were limited to Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). All selected articles underwent quality assessment. Results: The search generated 112 unique abstracts, of which 5 met inclusion criteria. Sample sizes ranged from 16 to 103 participants. Of the four studies that were able to analyze between-group differences, one showed significantly faster recovery in the early aerobic exercise group compared to control, while three showed no significant difference. Two studies demonstrated a trend toward faster initial symptom resolution in the early exercise group. Conclusions: Preliminary RCT evidence suggests that aerobic exercise initiated in the early postconcussion period does not exacerbate symptoms or prolong recovery time, and may potentially hasten recovery. Larger, more rigorous RCTs are required to define the optimal exercise parameters to facilitate symptom recovery.

Evolution of COVID-19 symptoms during the first 12 months after illness onset

Background Few robust longitudinal data on long-term COVID-19 symptoms are available. We evaluated symptom onset, severity and recovery across the full spectrum of disease severity, up to one year after illness onset. Methods The RECoVERED Study is a prospective cohort study based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants aged≥18 years were enrolled following SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis via the local Public Health Service and from hospitals. Standardised symptom questionnaires were completed at enrolment, one week and month later, and monthly thereafter. Clinical severity was defined according to WHO criteria. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to compare time from illness onset to symptom recovery, by clinical severity. We examined determinants of time to recovery using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results Between 11 May 2020 and 1 May 2021, 342 COVID-19 patients (192[56%] male) were enrolled, of whom 99/342(29%) had mild, 145/342(42%) moderate, 56/342(16%) severe and 42/342(12%) critical disease. The proportion of participants who reported at least one persistent symptom at 12 weeks after illness onset was greater in those with severe/critical disease (86.7%[95%CI=76.5-92.7%]) compared to those with mild or moderate disease (30.7%[95%CI=21.1-40.9%] and 63.8%[95%CI=54.8-71.5%]). At twelve months after illness onset, two-fifths of participants (40.7%[95%CI=34.2-47.1]) continued to report ≥1 symptom. Recovery was slower in female compared to male participants (aHR 0.65[95%CI=0.47-0.92]) and those with a BMI≥30kg/m 2 compared to BMI&lt;25kg/m 2 (HR 0.62[95%CI=0.39-0.97]). Conclusions COVID-19 symptoms persisted for one year after illness onset, even in some individuals with mild disease. Female sex and obesity were the most important determinants of speed of recovery from symptoms.

Profiling Patient-Reported Symptom Recovery from Esophagectomy for Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Real World Longitudinal Study

Purpose: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients have severe symptom burden after esophagectomy; however, longitudinal studies of symptom recovery after surgery are scarce. This study used longitudinal patient-reported outcome (PRO)-based symptoms to identify severe symptoms and profile symptom recovery from surgery in patients undergoing esophagectomy.Methods: Esophageal cancer patients (N=327) underwent esophagectomy were consecutivly included between April 2019 and March 2020. Data were extracted from the Sichuan Cancer Hospital’s Esophageal Cancer Case Management Registration Database. Symptom assessment time points were pre-surgery and 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 30, and 90 days post-surgery using the Chinese version of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. The symptom recovery trajectories were profiled using mixed-effect models and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: The most-servere symptoms after esophagectomy were pain, fatigue, dry mouth, disturbed sleep, and distress. The severity of symptoms peaked on day 1 after surgery. The top two symptoms were fatigue (mean: 5.44[SD 1.88]) and pain (mean: 5.23[SD 1.29]). Fatigue was more severe 90 days after surgery than at baseline (mean: 1.77 [SD 1.47] vs 0.65 [SD 1.05]; P<.0001). Disturbed sleep and distress persisted from pre-surgery to 90 days post-surgery; average sleep recovery time was up to 20 days, and 50.58% of patients had sleep disturbances 90 days post-surgery.Conclusions: Early postoperative pain management after esophagectomy should be considered. Characteristics and intervention strategies of postoperative fatigue, distress, and disturbed sleep in esophageal cancer patients warranty further studies.The study was registered on ChiCTR.org.cn Web site (ChiCTR2000040780, date 12/10/2020).

Saliva RNA biomarkers predict concussion duration and detect symptom recovery: a comparison with balance and cognitive testing

Objective The goals of this study were to assess the ability of salivary non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels to predict post-concussion symptoms lasting ≥ 21 days, and to examine the ability of ncRNAs to identify recovery compared to cognition and balance. Methods RNA sequencing was performed on 505 saliva samples obtained longitudinally from 112 individuals (8–24-years-old) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Initial samples were obtained ≤ 14 days post-injury, and follow-up samples were obtained ≥ 21 days post-injury. Computerized balance and cognitive test performance were assessed at initial and follow-up time-points. Machine learning was used to define: (1) a model employing initial ncRNA levels to predict persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) ≥ 21 days post-injury; and (2) a model employing follow-up ncRNA levels to identify symptom recovery. Performance of the models was compared against a validated clinical prediction rule, and balance/cognitive test performance, respectively. Results An algorithm using age and 16 ncRNAs predicted PPCS with greater accuracy than the validated clinical tool and demonstrated additive combined utility (area under the curve (AUC) 0.86; 95% CI 0.84–0.88). Initial balance and cognitive test performance did not differ between PPCS and non-PPCS groups (p > 0.05). Follow-up balance and cognitive test performance identified symptom recovery with similar accuracy to a model using 11 ncRNAs and age. A combined model (ncRNAs, balance, cognition) most accurately identified recovery (AUC 0.86; 95% CI 0.83–0.89). Conclusions ncRNA biomarkers show promise for tracking recovery from mTBI, and for predicting who will have prolonged symptoms. They could provide accurate expectations for recovery, stratify need for intervention, and guide safe return-to-activities.

Evolution of COVID-19 symptoms during the first 9 months after illness onset

Background: Few longitudinal data on COVID-19 symptoms across the full spectrum of disease severity are available. We evaluated symptom onset, severity and recovery up to nine months after illness onset. Methods: The RECoVERED Study is a prospective cohort study based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants aged>18 years were recruited following SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis via the local Public Health Service and from hospitals. Standardised symptom questionnaires were completed at recruitment, at one week and month after recruitment, and monthly thereafter. Clinical severity was defined according to WHO criteria. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to compare time from illness onset to symptom recovery, by clinical severity. We examined determinants of time to recovery using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Between 11 May 2020 and 31 January 2021, 301 COVID-19 patients (167[55%] male) were recruited, of whom 99/301(32.9%) had mild, 140/301(46.5%) moderate, 30/301(10.0%) severe and 32/301(10.6%) critical disease. The proportion of participants reporting at least one persistent symptom at 12 weeks after illness onset was greater in those with severe/critical disease (81.7%[95%CI=68.7-89.7%]) compared to those with mild or moderate disease (33.0%[95%CI=23.0-43.3%] and 63.8%[95%CI=54.8-71.5%]). At nine months after illness onset, almost half of all participants (42.1%[95%CI=35.6-48.5]) continued to report ≥1 symptom. Recovery was slower in participants with BMI≥30kg/m2 (HR 0.51[95%CI=0.30-0.87]) compared to those with BMI<25kg/m2, after adjusting for age, sex and number of comorbidities. Conclusions: COVID-19 symptoms persisted for nine months after illness onset, even in those with mild disease. Obesity was the most important determinant of time to recovery from symptoms.

Learning and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders as Risk Factors for Prolonged Concussion Recovery in Children and Adolescents

Objective: Examine pre-existing learning disorders (LD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) as risk factors for prolonged recovery and increased symptomology following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children/adolescents (5-17 years) with mTBI who presented to a Children’s Minnesota Concussion Clinic between April 2018 and March 2019. Differences across strata of pre-existing conditions (present vs. absent) in time to recovery measures were estimated via Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses and differences in symptom trajectories were examined via linear mixed-effects regression models. Regression models were adjusted for age, sex and other confounders. Results: In our cohort of 680 mTBI patients, those with LD (n = 70) or ADHD (n = 107) experienced significantly longer median durations of symptoms (58 and 68 days, respectively) than those without (43 days). Accordingly, LD was significantly associated with delayed symptom recovery (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.16–2.29), return to school (1.47, 1.08–2.00), and return to physical activity (1.50, 1.10–2.04). Likewise, ADHD was associated with delayed recovery (1.69, 1.28–2.23), return to school (1.52, 1.17–1.97) and physical activity (1.55, 1.19–2.01). Further, patients with LD or ADHD reported, on average, significantly more concussion symptoms and higher vision symptom scores throughout recovery versus those without. There was no evidence that concussion or vision symptom recovery trajectories varied over time between those with/without LD or ADHD (joint P-interactions > 0.05). Conclusion: Pre-existing LD and ADHD are risk factors for prolonged and more symptomatic mTBI recovery in youth. These results can inform clinical concussion management and recovery expectations.