Prevalence of Orthostatic Autonomic Dysregulation in Pediatric Concussion

What is the prevalence and clinical presentation of autonomic dysregulation (AD), characterized by orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, and symptom provocation, within 45 days of a pediatric concussion?In this cohort study using medical record review of 451 pediatric patients diagnosed with concussion, 9.98% showed physiological evidence of AD and 23.15% reported symptom provocation during postural change. Physiological AD was not always accompanied by subjective symptom reporting.This study challenges existing clinical assumptions about pediatric concussion management and reinforces the need for objective physiological testing in concussion assessment.

Corresponding Author: Roger Zemek, MD, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada (rzemek@cheo.on.ca).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.