Post-concussion symptoms in sports-related mild traumatic brain injury compared to non-sports-related mild traumatic brain injury.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nTo compare post-concussion symptoms in patients who sustained a sports-related mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) to those with non-sports-related mild TBI\xa0at 7 and 90 days post-injury.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis prospective multicentre cohort study took place in seven Canadian Emergency Departments (ED). Non-hospitalized patients aged\u2009≥\u200914\xa0years with a documented mild TBI that occurred\u2009≤\u200924\xa0h of ED visit and a Glasgow Coma Scale score\u2009≥\u200913 were included. Main outcome measure was the presence of\u2009≥\u20093 symptoms on the Rivermead Post-concussion Questionnaire at 90\xa0days post-injury. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of (1) individual Rivermead Post-concussion Questionnaire symptom, (2) total Rivermead Post-concussion Questionnaire score\u2009≥\u200921 and (3) return to normal daily activities. Adjusted risk ratios (RR) were calculated.\n\n\nRESULTS\n1727 patients were included, 363 (21.0%) sustained a sports-related mild TBI. Similar proportions of patients with\u2009≥\u20093 symptoms, a Rivermead Post-concussion Questionnaire score\u2009≥\u200921 and those who returned to their normal daily activities were observed at 7 and 90\xa0days post-injury. Sports-related mild TBI patients were at higher risk of poor concentration [RR: 1.3 (95% CI 1.05-1.54)] and non-return to sports activities [RR: 2.2 (95% CI 1.69-2.94)] at 7\xa0days post-injury. At 90\xa0days, sports-relate -mild TBI patients reported less fatigue [RR: 0.7 (95% CI 0.51-0.98)] and feeling of dizziness [RR: 0.6 (95% CI 0.35-0.99)].\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nPatients who sustained sports-related mild TBI could be at lower risk of experiencing symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness 90\xa0days post-injury. Clinicians should be mindful that non-sports-related mild TBI patients may experience more post-concussion symptoms and that the level of physical activity may influence the patient s rehabilitation.