Citation

Chrisman SPD, Lowry S, Herring SA, Kroshus E, Hoopes TR, Higgins SK, Rivara FP. J. Pediatr. 2019; 207: 176-184.e1.

Affiliation

Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.11.003

PMID

30554790

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To collect prospective data on concussion incidence, risk factors, duration of symptoms, and return to school and sport in 5- to 14-year-old American football participants. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study over 2 years collecting data during two 10-week fall seasons. Youth with concussion were followed to determine time to return to school, sport, and baseline level of symptoms. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of sustaining a concussion associated with baseline demographic factors. Time to return to school, sport, and baseline symptoms were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

RESULTS: Of 863 youth followed (996 player-seasons), 51 sustained a football-related concussion, for an athlete-level incidence of 5.1% per season. Youth with history of concussion had a 2-fold increased risk for sustaining an incident concussion (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.8). Youth with depression had a 5-fold increased risk of concussion (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.7-18.8). After a concussion, 50% of athletes returned to school by 3 days, 50% returned to sport by 13 days, and 50% returned to a baseline level of symptoms by 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: Concussion rates in this study were slightly higher than previously reported, with 5 of every 100 youth sustaining a football-related concussion each season. One-half of youth were still symptomatic 3 weeks after injury. Further research is needed to address the risk of concussion in youth football.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; brain concussion; child; football; return to play; risk; sport; symptoms; youth