Sex Differences in Reported Concussion Injury Rates and Time Loss From Participation: An Update of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program From 2004–2005 Through 2008–2009
Abstract:Epidemiologic studies have identified differences in concussion incidence between the sexes. However, few authors to date have updated injury rates (IRs) and time loss between male and female concussed athletes.Context:
To examine sex differences in IRs and time loss in concussed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes.Objective:
Descriptive epidemiologic study.Design:
National Collegiate Athletic Association athletics.Setting:
A tota… Show more
“…Previous studies commonly report increased SRC incidence in female contact sports when compared to males, which was not supported by our present data. In addition, females typically fare worse than males after SRC . Both initial symptoms and duration of symptom are commonly worse, findings supported by our present study.…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 99%
“…Previous studies commonly report increased SRC incidence in female contact sports when compared to males, 36 which was not supported by our present data. In addition, females typically fare worse than males after SRC.…”
Objectives
Sport‐related concussions are an increasingly recognized health problem. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world although recent studies on concussion incidence are scarce. Here, a nationwide prospective study on concussion incidence, symptom severity, risk factors, gender differences, and return‐to‐play after concussion was performed in 51 Swedish elite soccer teams during the 2017 season.
Methods
In the 1st and 2nd soccer leagues for men and women, a Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT)‐based questionnaire study was performed at preseason (baseline) and from 48 hours to 3 months post‐concussion.
Results
We followed 959 players (389 women, 570 men) for 25 146 player game hours (9867 hours for women, 15 279 hours for men). Concussion incidence (n = 36 concussions during the season) was 1.19/1000 player game hours (females 1.22/1000 hours, males 1.18/1000 hours; P = .85). Twenty‐seven percent of all players (8% of females, 40% of males) continued to play immediately after the concussion. When compared to male players, female players had worse initial symptom severity scores (median and IQR 30 (17‐50.5) vs 11 (4‐26.25), P = .02) on SCAT and longer return‐to‐play (P = .02). Risk factors for concussion were baseline symptoms and previous concussion.
Conclusion
In Swedish elite soccer, the concussion incidence was 1.19/1000 without gender differences. Most players recovered to play within 4 weeks post‐injury. Almost one third of players continued to play at time of concussion. Female players had worse initial symptoms and longer return‐to‐play time than males, and a prolonged recovery beyond 3 months was only observed among female players.
“…Previous studies commonly report increased SRC incidence in female contact sports when compared to males, which was not supported by our present data. In addition, females typically fare worse than males after SRC . Both initial symptoms and duration of symptom are commonly worse, findings supported by our present study.…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 99%
“…Previous studies commonly report increased SRC incidence in female contact sports when compared to males, 36 which was not supported by our present data. In addition, females typically fare worse than males after SRC.…”
Objectives
Sport‐related concussions are an increasingly recognized health problem. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world although recent studies on concussion incidence are scarce. Here, a nationwide prospective study on concussion incidence, symptom severity, risk factors, gender differences, and return‐to‐play after concussion was performed in 51 Swedish elite soccer teams during the 2017 season.
Methods
In the 1st and 2nd soccer leagues for men and women, a Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT)‐based questionnaire study was performed at preseason (baseline) and from 48 hours to 3 months post‐concussion.
Results
We followed 959 players (389 women, 570 men) for 25 146 player game hours (9867 hours for women, 15 279 hours for men). Concussion incidence (n = 36 concussions during the season) was 1.19/1000 player game hours (females 1.22/1000 hours, males 1.18/1000 hours; P = .85). Twenty‐seven percent of all players (8% of females, 40% of males) continued to play immediately after the concussion. When compared to male players, female players had worse initial symptom severity scores (median and IQR 30 (17‐50.5) vs 11 (4‐26.25), P = .02) on SCAT and longer return‐to‐play (P = .02). Risk factors for concussion were baseline symptoms and previous concussion.
Conclusion
In Swedish elite soccer, the concussion incidence was 1.19/1000 without gender differences. Most players recovered to play within 4 weeks post‐injury. Almost one third of players continued to play at time of concussion. Female players had worse initial symptoms and longer return‐to‐play time than males, and a prolonged recovery beyond 3 months was only observed among female players.
“…These results may reflect the fact that girls do not have enough strength and awareness to avoid collisions and are not physically able to withstand a collision. Female sex has been associated with a higher risk of sport-related concussions 3 9 11. Our study identifies a higher risk of concussion in men, but the result was not statistically significant.…”
BackgroundConcussions in sports are a growing concern. This study describes the incidence, injury characteristics and time trends of concussions in international ice hockey.MethodsAll concussions in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships (WC) and Olympic Winter Games were analysed over 9 ice hockey seasons between 2006 and 2015 using a standardised injury reporting system and diagnoses made by the team physicians.ResultsA total of 3293 games were played (169 tournaments, 1212 teams, 26 130 players) comprising 142 244 athletic game exposures. The average injury rate (IR) for concussion was 1.1 per 1000 ice hockey player-games for all IIHF WC tournaments. The IR was the highest in the men's WC A-pool tournaments and Olympic Games (IR 1.6). However, the annual IR for concussion in the men's tournaments has been lower than that in the World Junior tournaments since 2012. When a concussion occurred with contact to a flexible board, the IR was 0.2 per 1000 player games. In contrast, the IR was 1.1, if the board and glass were traditional (for the latter, RR 6.44 (95% CI 1.50 to 27.61)). In the men's tournaments, the trend of concussions caused by illegal hits decreased over the study period. After the 4th Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport was published (2013), none of the concussed players in the men's WC returned to play on the day of injury.ConclusionsThe annual risk of concussion in the men's WC has decreased during the study period. This was most likely due to a reduction in illegal hits. The risk of concussion was significantly lower if games were played on rinks with flexible boards and glass. Rink modifications, improved education and strict rule enforcement should be considered by policymakers in international ice hockey.
ObjectiveA systematic review of factors that might be associated with, or influence, clinical recovery from sport-related concussion. Clinical recovery was defined functionally as a return to normal activities, including school and sports, following injury.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesPubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus and Web of Science.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesStudies published by June of 2016 that addressed clinical recovery from concussion.ResultsA total of 7617 articles were identified using the search strategy, and 101 articles were included. There are major methodological differences across the studies. Many different clinical outcomes were measured, such as symptoms, cognition, balance, return to school and return to sports, although symptom outcomes were the most frequently measured. The most consistent predictor of slower recovery from concussion is the severity of a person’s acute and subacute symptoms. The development of subacute problems with headaches or depression is likely a risk factor for persistent symptoms lasting greater than a month. Those with a preinjury history of mental health problems appear to be at greater risk for having persistent symptoms. Those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or learning disabilities do not appear to be at substantially greater risk. There is some evidence that the teenage years, particularly high school, might be the most vulnerable time period for having persistent symptoms—with greater risk for girls than boys.ConclusionThe literature on clinical recovery from sport-related concussion has grown dramatically, is mostly mixed, but some factors have emerged as being related to outcome.
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