Gender Differences in Risk Factors for Memory Complaints in Complicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Glasgow Coma Scale Scores of 14 to 15

Purpose: Post-traumatic complaints in patients with complicated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) might persist for years. Among them, subjective memory complaints (MCs) are widespread. However, few studies have explored the relationship between gender, MCs, and risk factors when interference variables are considered. This study investigated whether there are gender differences in risk factors of MCs in the chronic phase of patients with complicated mTBI and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 14-15.Methods: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed in several teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan. Complicated mTBI was identified through computed tomography. The complicated mTBI patients participating in this study should be injured for at least one year. Data on MCs of patients in the chronic phase of complicated mTBI was collected in structured telephone interviews. Results: A total of 403 mTBI (229 [56.82%] males) with GCS scores of 14-15 at admission and hospitalization were identified. At the time of injury, the mean age was 40.47 ± 16.71 years, and the mean follow-up was 1.93 ± 0.60 years post-injury. Of all the patients, those who had MCs consisted of 87 (37.99%) males and 76 (43.68%) females, and there were 35 (15.28%) males, and 23 (13.22%) females had memory complaints only (MCOs). Male patients with mixed types of hemorrhage (brain contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]) had higher odds of MCs and MCOs. Conclusion: In male complicated mTBI patients, during the chronic phase, those with brain contusions and SAH may have higher risks with MCs and MCOs. These findings might provide meaningful information for clinical workers on healthcare planning in the future.