Dissertation committee:
Μυριανθέας Παύλος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Φιλντίσης Γεώργιος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Κακλαμάνος Ιωάννης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Αλεβιζόπουλος Γεώργιος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Θεοδοσοπούλου Ελένη, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Μαριόλης Θεόδωρος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Χρονόπουλος Ευστάθιος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Background: Evidence suggests that circadian rhythm of cortisol and vital signs can emerge during the course of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI).
Objective: To investigate circadian rhythm of cortisol and vital signs during the acute phase of mTBI in hospitalised patients.
Methods: 30 participants (19 patients with mTBI and 11 controls) were examined for saliva cortisol dynamics, Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Arterial Pressure (SAP), Diastolic Arterial Pressure (DAP), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and Body Temperature (BT) fluctuations for four consecutive days. In order to check for sleep quality and insomnia problems, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was completed by controls and patients.
Results: Patients showed elevated levels of cortisol relative to controls (peak at 8 am and lowest levels at 12 am), as well as for most physiological parameters. MAP was significantly higher for patients throughout the measurement period, and BT was elevated for patients relative to controls at almost all measurements of the first and second day. Mean HR tended to track at non-significantly higher levels for the mTBI group. Patients' sleepiness and insomnia values (ESS and AIS) were initially significantly higher relative to controls but the difference dissipated by day 4.
Conclusion: The increase in absolute values of cortisol and vital signs measurements, indicates that in the acute phase of mTBI, a stressful process is activated which may affect sleep quality as well.
Keywords:
Body Temperature, Blood Pressure, Fluctuations, Heart Rate, Saliva Cortisol Levels, Traumatic Brain Injury
