Table 1 Demographic and basic characteristics did not differ between the non-responders (n=251) and the QOLIBRI cohort (n=135) regarding most of the analyzed parameters. However, patients of the QOLIBRI cohort gained better function at discharge from neurorehabilitation. TBI severity: mild (GCS 13-15), moderate (GCS 9-12), severe (GCS 3-8); mobile functional status represents a modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 3; immobile functional status represents a modified Rankin Scale of 4 to 5

TBI severity mild/ moderate/ severe/ n.s. (%) ^b

9.8/ 8.4/ 32.1/ 49.7

8.0/ 6.4/ 33.5/ 52.1

13.3/ 13.3/ 35.6/ 37.8

0.08

TBI etiology traffic accidents/ falls/ others (%) ^a

45.1/ 45.3/ 9.6

43.4/ 47.0/ 9.6

48.8/43.9/ 7.3

0.22

Age at TBI (mean ± SEM) ^b

53.4 ± 2.4

51.03 ± 1.32

47.5 ± 1.7

0.08

Age at survey (mean ± SEM) ^b

56.7 ± 1.0

56.2 ± 1.3

53.1 ± 1.6

0.13

Time since TBI (mean ± SEM) ^b

5.4 ± 0.1

5.2 ± 0.2

5.7 ± 0.3

0.14

Sex distribution male/ female (%) ^a

74/ 26

73/ 27

76/ 24

0.63

Decompressive craniectomy (%) ^a

30

32

27

0.42

ICP monitoring or permanent shunt device (%) ^a

60

62

57

0.38

Tracheostomy (%) ^a

50

52

44

0.23

Time to onset of neurorehabilitation^b (days, mean ± SEM)

29 ± 1.6

29.8 ± 2.5

26.5 ± 2.3

0.76

Duration of neurorehabilitation^b

(days, mean ± SEM)

49.7 ± 2.3

51.8 ± 3.3

38.8 ± 2.9

0.08

Functional status at admission

(mobile (mRS 0–3)/ immobile (mRS 4–5)/ n.c. (%)) ^a

(mean ± SEM) ^b

8.7/ 88.8/ 2.5

4.53 ± 0.04

10.8/ 89.2/ 0

4.53 ± 0.06

5.2/ 94.1/ 0.7

4.6 ± 0.07

0.09

0.85

Functional status at discharge

(mobile (mRS 0–3)/ immobile (mRS 4–5)/ n.c. (%)) ^a

(mean ± SEM) ^b

61.5/ 36/ 2.5

2.95 ± 0.07

58.6/ 41/ 0.4

3.13 ± 0.1

80.7/ 18.5/ 0.8

2.25 ± 0.1

< 0.001*

<  0.001*