Headache and Musculoskeletal Complaints in Whiplash Injury
Author Information
Author(s): Myran Rigmor, Hagen Knut, Svebak Sven, Nygaard Oystein, Zwart John-Anker
Primary Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between self-reported whiplash injury and chronic musculoskeletal complaints and headache in a large adult population?
Conclusion
Individuals with self-reported whiplash injury experience significantly more headaches and musculoskeletal complaints than those without such injuries.
Supporting Evidence
- The lifetime prevalence of self-reported whiplash injury was 2.9%.
- There was a significant association between whiplash injury and headache with an odds ratio of 2.1.
- Chronic musculoskeletal complaints were associated with whiplash injury with an odds ratio of 3.3.
- The association was strongest for individuals with both headache and chronic musculoskeletal complaints.
Takeaway
People who say they have had whiplash often also say they have headaches and body pain. This might be because they remember their injuries more if they have pain.
Methodology
The study surveyed 92,936 adults in Nord-Trondelag, Norway, with 59,104 responding about whiplash injury, headaches, and musculoskeletal complaints.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of reporting bias, as individuals with pain may be more likely to remember and report past injuries.
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported data, which may lead to underreporting of whiplash injuries and recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults aged 20 and older from Nord-Trondelag county, Norway.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.8-2.4 for headache, 95% CI 2.8-3.8 for chronic MSCs
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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