Faculty Collaboration Database

Differences in sport-related concussion for female and male athletes in comparable collegiate sports: a study from the NCAA-DoD Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. Br J Sports Med 2021 Dec;55(24):1387-1394

Date

12/24/2020

Pubmed ID

33355211

DOI

10.1136/bjsports-2020-103316

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85098483826 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   52 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine sex differences in sport-related concussion (SRC) across comparable sports.

METHODS: Prospective cohort of collegiate athletes enrolled between 2014 and 2017 in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium study.

RESULTS: Among 1071 concussions (females=615; 57.4%), there was no difference in recovery (median days to full return to play) (females=13.5 (IQR 9.0, 23.1) vs males=11.8 (IQR 8.1, 19.0), p=0.96). In subgroup analyses, female recovery was longer in contact (females=12.7 days (IQR 8.8, 21.4) vs males=11.0 days (IQR 7.9, 16.2), p=0.0021), while male recovery was longer in limited contact sports (males=16.9 days (IQR 9.7, 101.7) vs females=13.8 days (IQR 9.1, 22.0), p<0.0001). There was no overall difference in recovery among Division I schools (females=13.7 (IQR 9.0, 23.1) vs males=12.2 (IQR 8.2 19.7), p=0.5), but females had longer recovery at the Division II/III levels (females=13.0 (IQR 9.2, 22.7) vs males=10.6 (IQR 8.1, 13.9), p=0.0048).

CONCLUSION: Overall, no difference in recovery between sexes across comparable women's and men's sports in this collegiate cohort was found. However, females in contact and males in limited contact sports experienced longer recovery times, while females had longer recovery times at the Division II/III level. These disparate outcomes indicate that, while intrinsic biological sex differences in concussion recovery may exist, important, modifiable extrinsic factors may play a role in concussion outcomes.

Author List

Master CL, Katz BP, Arbogast KB, McCrea MA, McAllister TW, Pasquina PF, Lapradd M, Zhou W, Broglio SP, CARE Consortium Investigators

Author

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Athletes
Athletic Injuries
Brain Concussion
Female
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
Students
Universities