RISKS OF SUSTAINING A CONCUSSION GIVEN PRIOR HISTORY OF CONCUSSION IN COLLEGE ATHLETES

Increased attention has been focused on concussions among scientific, clinical, and lay populations. Previous research has indicated that players who sustain a concussion are 3 to 6 times more likely to sustain another concussion. PURPOSE This study examines the risk of sustaining a concussion as a function of the player's concussion history, sex, and sport. METHODS The Penn State Concussion Program was established in 1995 as a prospective multi-sport clinical research program. Data are collected prospectively once a player enters the program. Retrospective data of past history of concussion are also collected. Neuropsychological testing is conducted at baseline and serially post-injury. This paper reports on risk estimates for concussion during the program based on sex, history of previous head injury, and presence of learning disability among Basketball, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, and Rugby college athletes. RESULTS Males were not significantly more likely to sustain a concussion than females (X 2 =0.00, p = .99) and males were not significantly more likely than females to have had a previous head injury (X 2=2.67, p = 1.03). Overall, athletes with a previous concussion were 2.57 times more likely to sustain a concussion than those without a previous head injury. Individuals with only one previous concussion were 2.2 times more likely to sustain another concussion when compared to those with no previous history of concussion. Those with 2 previous head injuries were 3.52 times more likely to sustain a concussion than those with no concussions. Those players with a history of 3 or more concussions were 2.71 times more likely to have another concussion when compared to those with no history of concussion. CONCLUSIONS These data support the findings that a prior history of concussion places an athlete at significantly higher risk for sustaining another concussion. The risk appears to increase as the number of previous concussions increases. There were no sex differences in either history of previous concussions or frequency of concussions. Supported by NOCSAE grant #01–08