228309 Epidemiology of Concussions Sustained in 18 US High School Sports, 2008-09

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christy L. Collins, MA , Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
Mallika Marar , Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
Natalie McIlvain, BS , Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
R. Dawn Comstock, PhD , Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
Background/Purpose: An estimated 300,000 sport-related concussions occur annually in the United States (US). Recent research shows that young athletes are more susceptible to concussions than older athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of concussions in high school athletes by comparing concussion rates by sport, gender, and type of exposure.

Methods: Using an internet-based data collection tool, RIO™, certified athletic trainers from 200 US high schools reported athletic exposure and injury data for athletes participating in 18 sports during the 2008-09 academic year.

Results: Concussions represented 11.8% of the 7,329 injuries reported. The overall concussion rate was 2.20 per 10,000 athlete exposures (AEs). Boys' football had the highest rate (5.35 concussions per 10,000 AEs), followed by boys' ice hockey (4.32), girls' lacrosse (3.94), and boys' lacrosse (3.22). Overall, girls had higher concussion rates than boys in gender-comparable sports (p<0.001), particularly in girls' softball compared to boys' baseball (RR=3.13, 95% CI=1.60-6.14, p< 0.001). Athletes were more likely to sustain concussions in competition than in practice (RR=6.49, 95% CI=5.62-7.50, p<0.001). 59.0% of all concussions resulted in a time loss of 1-3 weeks. Player-to-player contact was associated with 71.8% of concussions.

Conclusions: Concussion rates vary by sport, gender, and type of exposure. An understanding of concussion rates, patterns of injury, and risk factors can drive targeted preventive measures and help reduce the risk for concussion among high school athletes.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand why concussions are of particular concern among US high school athletes 2. Identify the most common mechanism of concussion among US high school athletes 3. Explain the importance of being able to identify differences in concussions by sport, gender, and type of exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I participated in the study to a significant extent.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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