Recovery from prolonged disorders of consciousness: A dual-center prospective cohort study in China

BACKGROUND: Recent innovations in intensive care have improved the prognosis of patients with severe brain injuries and brought more patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). Data are lacking regarding the long-term outcomes of those patients in China. It is necessary to study the long-term outcomes of patients with prolonged DoC in light of many factors likely to influence crucial decisions about their care and their life. AIM: To present the preliminary results of a DoC cohort. METHODS: This was a two-center prospective cohort study of inpatients with vegetative state (VS)/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). The study outcomes were the recovery from VS/UWS to minimally conscious state (MCS) and the long-term status of patients with prolonged DoC considered in VS/UWS or MCS for up to 6 years. The patients were evaluated using the Glasgow coma scale, coma recovery scale-revised, and Glasgow outcome scale. The endpoint of follow-up was recovery of full consciousness or death. The changes in the primary clinical outcome improvement in clinical diagnosis were evaluated at 12 mo compared with baseline. RESULTS: The study population included 93 patients (62 VS/UWS and 31 MCS). The post-injury interval range was 28-634 d. Median follow-up was 20 mo (interquartile range, 12-37 mo). At the endpoint, 33 transitioned to an emergence from MCS or full consciousness, eight had a locked-in syndrome, and there were 35 patients remaining in a VS/UWS and 11 in an MCS. Seven (including one locked-in syndrome) patients (7.5%) died within 12 mo of injury. Compared with the unresponsive group (n = 52) at 12 mo, the responsive group (n = 41) had a higher proportion of males (87.8% vs 63.5%, P = 0.008), shorter time from injury (median, 40.0 d vs 65.5 d, P = 0.006), higher frequency of vascular etiology (68.3% vs 38.5%, P = 0.007), higher Glasgow coma scale score at admission (median, 9 vs 6, P < 0.001), higher coma recovery scale-revised score at admission (median, 9 vs 2.5, P < 0.001), at 1 mo (median, 14 vs 5, P < 0.001), and at 3 mo (median, 20 vs 6, P < 0.001), lower frequency of VS/UWS (36.6% vs 90.0%, P < 0.001), and more favorable Glasgow outcome scale outcome (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with severe DoC, despite having strong predictors of poor prognosis, might recover consciousness after a prolonged time of rehabilitation. An accurate initial diagnosis of patients with DoC is critical for predicting outcome and a long-term regular follow-up is also important.