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Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium

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Headache among combat-exposed veterans and service members and its relation to mild traumatic brain injury history and other factors: a LIMBIC-CENC study

Walker WC, Clark SW, Eppich K, Wilde EA, Martin AM, Allen CM, Cortez MM, Pugh MJ, Walton SR, & Kenney K (2023). Headache among combat-exposed veterans and service members and its relation to mild traumatic brain injury history and other factors: a LIMBIC-CENC study. Frontiers in neurology, 14, 1242871. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1242871. PMID: 37808506; PMCID: PMC10552781.

Main Question

What are the risk factors for headache symptoms and impact on daily life among combat-exposed military personnel?

Study Findings

Headache symptoms in Veterans is common and incrementally increase with number of mTBIs. Blast-related mTBIs had the highest risk for headache symptoms and impact on daily life. Additional headache risk factors include female sex, Black racial identity, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, younger age, PTSD, depression, and sleep quality.

Practical Uses

Individuals with mTBI history, particularly blast-related mTBI(s), are at highest risk for headache severity that impacts their daily life. Clinical screening for risk factors is recommended. Headache treatment should be holistic and include PTSD, depression, and sleep difficulties.

For more information on assessing and managing headache

In an effort to provide the latest findings to our consumers as quickly as possible, some of these studies, while fully peer reviewed, have not been presented or published either electronically or in print. Findings are presented for informational purposes only and should not be cited or referenced until they are formally published or presented.

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The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 839 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was supported by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense, through the Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC) Award/W81XWH-18-PH/TBIRP-LIMBIC under Awards No. W81XWH1920067 and W81XWH-13-2-0095, and by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Awards No. I01 CX002097, I01 CX002096, I01 HX003155, I01 RX003444, I01 RX003443, I01 RX003442, I01 CX001135, I01 CX001246, I01 RX001774, I01 RX 001135, I01 RX 002076, I01 RX 001880, I01 RX 002172, I01 RX 002173, I01 RX 002171, I01 RX 002174, and I01 RX 002170. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. / Created by VCU University Relations

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