Potential predictors of late whiplash
| Characteristic (number missing data) | No late whiplash | Late whiplash | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number (%) | Number (%) | ||
| *χ2; †Mann Whitney U; ‡Student’s t test. | |||
| BMI, body mass index. | |||
| Total number | 151 (48%) | 164 (52%) | |
| Female | 100 (66.2%) | 119 (72.6%) | 0.222* |
| Age, mean (SD) | 41.9 (15.9) | 43.8 (14.2) | 0.293‡ |
| BMI, median (IQ range) | 26.1 (23.1–29.1) | 25.7 (22.5–28.9) | 0.660† |
| Previous neck pain | 27 (17.9%) | 43 (26.2%) | 0.075* |
| Current smoker (5) | 27 (18.1%) | 26 22.4%) | 0.354* |
| Married | 111 (72.8%) | 118 (72%) | 0.859* |
| Seeking compensation | 81 (53.6%) | 155 (94.5%) | <0.005* |
| Occupation (10) | 0.800* | ||
| Unemployed or unskilled | 47 (32%) | 54 (34.2%) | |
| Semi-skilled or skilled | 78 (53%) | 82 (51.9%) | |
| Professional or managerial | 22 (15%) | 22 (13.9%) | |
| Car size | 0.073* | ||
| Mini | 61 (40.4%) | 47 (28.7%) | |
| Small | 51 (33.8%) | 61 (37.2%) | |
| Large | 39 (25.8%) | 56 (34.1%) | |
| Aware of collision | 39 (25.8%) | 41 (25%) | 0.866* |
| Head turned | 45 (29.8%) | 62 (37.8%) | 0.134* |
| Struck car driveable | 93 (61.6%) | 107 (65.2%) | 0.501* |
| Striking car driveable | 85 (56.3%) | 110 (67.1%) | 0.049* |
| Struck car stationary | 134 (88.7%) | 132 (80.5%) | 0.043* |
| Striking speed (12), mean (SD) | 30.1 (12.5) | 29 (11.6) | 0.420‡ |
| Initial days of pain/week, mean (SD) | 2.6 (2.8) | 5.3 (2.1) | <0.005‡ |
| Initial neck VAS score, median (IQ range) | 18 (2–34) | 44 (27.3–60.8) | <0.005† |
| Initial headache | 52 (34.4%) | 111 (67.7%) | <0.005* |
| Initial arm pain | 27 (17.9%) | 81 (49.4%) | <0.005* |
| Initial low back pain | 42 (27.8%) | 54 (32.9%) | 0.325 |
| Initial concentration problems | 48 (31.8%) | 73 (44.5%) | 0.020* |
| Initial memory problems | 25 (16.6%) | 42 (25.6%) | 0.050* |
| Initial dizzyness | 32 (21.2%) | 44 (26.8%) | 0.243* |