Serum Zinc and Long-Term Prognosis after Acute Traumatic Brain Injury with Intracranial Injury: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Serum zinc levels in the acute stages after traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be capable of predicting cinical and functional prognoses. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum zinc levels and long-term survival and neurological outcomes in TBI patients with intracranial injury. This multicenter prospective cohort study enrolled adult TBI patients with intracranial injury who visited emergency departments between December 2018 and June 2020. Serum zinc levels drawn within 24 h after injury were categorized into four groups: low (<80.0 mcg/dL), low-normal (80.0-100.0 mcg/dL), high-normal (100.1-120.0 mcg/dL), and high (>120.0 mcg/dL). The study outcomes were 6-month mortality and disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale, 1-3). A multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate associations between serum zinc and study outcomes. From the eligible TBI patients (N = 487), the median (interquartile range) serum zinc level was 112.0 mcg/dL (95.0-142.0). Six-month mortality and disability were 21.1% (103/487) and 29.6% (144/487), respectively. Compared to the high-normal zinc group, there were significant associations with 6-month mortality and disability observed in the low zinc group (aORs (95% CIs): 1.91 (1.60-2.28) and 1.95 (1.62-2.36) for the low group; 1.14 (0.67-1.94) and 1.15 (0.91-1.46) for the low-normal group; and 0.72 (0.44-1.16) and 0.88 (0.61-1.27) for the high group, respectively). Among the 122 TBI patients with diabetes mellitus, the low zinc group showed a higher incidence of 6-month mortality (aOR (95% CI): 9.13 (4.01-20.81)) compared to the high-normal zinc group. Moreover, the low and low-normal groups had higher odds for 6-month disability (aORs (95% CIs): 6.63 (3.61-12.15) for the low group and 2.37 (1.38-4.07) for the low-normal group). Serum zinc deficiency is associated with a higher incidence of 6-month mortality and disability after injury for TBI patients with intracranial injury.

Automated summary

This study found that serum zinc levels in acute TBI patients are associated with long-term survival and neurological outcomes, with the low zinc group showing a higher risk of 6-month mortality and disability.