Background: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury can to some extend experience long-term physical, cognitive, social and behavioral deficits, which have serious implications for employment trajectories and financial independence. These deficits have shown to be more pronounced in women. High socio-economic position such as income, level of education and employment status before the accident have shown to affect return to work. But also cohabitation status, ethnicity and health are important factors. Previously studies are typically self-report studies, and are often small and may suffer from selection bias due to patient nonresponse. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe no return to work among patients with mild traumatic brain injury in Denmark and to examine how factors such as age, gender, cohabitation status, socio-economic and pre-injury health factors affect no return to work up to 5 years post-injury. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that most patients with mild traumatic brain injury return to work within work 6 months post-injury, and that patients with mild traumatic brain injury injury receive more social transfer payments compared to the general population. Additionally, we hypothesize that low socio economic position, comorbidities and being single are associated with prolonged no return to work. Methods: The present study is an observational national register-based cohort study with long-term follow up of patients with mild traumatic brain injury from 1st of January 2008 - 31st of December 2012 in Denmark. Patients aged 18-60 years diagnosed with concussion from 1st of January 2003-31st of December 2007 in the national patient register will be included in the study. Data will be retrieved from several national databases, including the DREAM database containing data on social benefits and reimbursements. Primary outcome is no-return to work (nRTW) due to any cause and the following four secondary outcomes are graded and should be regarded as a continuum ranging from health related nRTW, limited nRTW, permanently nRTW and mortality. The results will be published as two separate scientific articles.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
38,372
Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark
nRTW
No-return to work up to 5 years post-injury. nRTW is defined as receiving social transfer payments in any given week during the follow-up period. If no social benefit is given in the DREAM register, it is assumed the patient is gainfully occupied or self-supporting.
Time frame: 5 years follow up
Health related nRTW
Health related nRTW is defined as a combined effect of social transfer payments given in case of short or long-term sickness absence. If social transfer payments are granted due to illness it is assumed that the patient is not gainfully working or job seeking.
Time frame: 5 years follow up
Limited nRTW
Limited nRTW is defined as a joint effect of several outcome measures granted citizens with permanent reduced work capacity. If no social transfer payments are given, it is assumed that the patients are gainfully occupied or self-supporting.
Time frame: 5 years follow up
Permanently nRTW
Individuals between 18-60 years who have permanently reduced work capacity and unable to return to work after injury can be granted disability pension (DP) after an extensive municipal assessment. DP would only be granted persons who have no work capacity left. This outcome includes disability pension and mortality and is regarded as a permanent exit from the labour market.
Time frame: 5 years follow up
Mortality
Data on mortality was retrieved from the DREAM register and the proportion of mortality will be assessed during the 5 year follow-up period.
Time frame: 5 years follow up
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