Recent innovations in intensive care have improved the prognosis of patients with severe brain injuries and brought more patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). Data are lacking regarding the long-term outcomes of those patients in China. It is necessary to study the long-term outcomes of patients with prolonged DoC in light of many factors likely to influence crucial decisions about their care and their life. To present the preliminary results of a DoC cohort. This was a two-center prospective cohort study of inpatients with vegetative state (VS)/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). The study outcomes were the recovery from VS/UWS to minimally conscious state (MCS) and the long-term status of patients with prolonged DoC considered in VS/UWS or MCS for up to 6 years. The patients were evaluated using the Glasgow coma scale, coma recovery scale-revised, and Glasgow outcome scale. The endpoint of follow-up was recovery of full consciousness or death. The changes in the primary clinical outcome improvement in clinical diagnosis were evaluated at 12 mo compared with baseline. The study population included 93 patients (62 VS/UWS and 31 MCS). The post-injury interval range was 28-634 d. Median follow-up was 20 mo (interquartile range, 12-37 mo). At the endpoint, 33 transitioned to an emergence from MCS or full consciousness, eight had a locked-in syndrome, and there were 35 patients remaining in a VS/UWS and 11 in an MCS. Seven (including one locked-in syndrome) patients (7.5%) died within 12 mo of injury. Compared with the unresponsive group (n = 52) at 12 mo, the responsive group (n = 41) had a higher proportion of males (87.8% vs 63.5%, P = 0.008), shorter time from injury (median, 40.0 d vs 65.5 d, P = 0.006), higher frequency of vascular etiology (68.3% vs 38.5%, P = 0.007), higher Glasgow coma scale score at admission (median, 9 vs 6, P < 0.001), higher coma recovery scale-revised score at admission (median, 9 vs 2.5, P < 0.001), at 1 mo (median, 14 vs 5, P < 0.001), and at 3 mo (median, 20 vs 6, P < 0.001), lower frequency of VS/UWS (36.6% vs 90.0%, P < 0.001), and more favorable Glasgow outcome scale outcome (P < 0.001). Patients with severe DoC, despite having strong predictors of poor prognosis, might recover consciousness after a prolonged time of rehabilitation. An accurate initial diagnosis of patients with DoC is critical for predicting outcome and a long-term regular follow-up is also important. ©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.