Affiliations: [a]
Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| [b]
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: David X. Cifu, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. E-mail: dcifu@vcu.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Conducting mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) longitudinal studies across multiple sites is a challenging endeavor which has been made more challenging because of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE:This article briefly describes several concerns that need to be addressed during the conduct of research to account for COVID-19’s impact. METHODS:The recent actions and steps taken by the Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC)-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC) researchers are reviewed. RESULTS:COVID-19’s effects on the conduct of LIMBIC-CENC for the short-term and long-term were considered to ensure the study continued safely for participants and researchers. COVID-19 may have long-lasting health and especially neurological effects which may confound the quantitative and qualitative measures of this any comparable longitudinal studies. CONCLUSION:The recognition, understanding, and preparation of COVID-19’s impact on a longitudinal military and veteran mTBI population is crucial to successfully conducting LIMBIC-CENC and similar neurological research studies. Developing a plan based on the best available information while remaining agile as new information about COVID-19 emerge, is essential. Research presented in this special issue underscores the complexity of studying long-term effects of mTBI, in a population exposed to and symptomatic from COVID-19.
