Incidence of sport-related traumatic brain injury and risk factors of severity: a population-based epidemiologic study.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies of sport-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) are population-based or rely on directly observed data on cause, demographic characteristics, and severity. This study addresses the epidemiology of sport-related TBI in a large population.


METHODS
Data on all South Carolina hospital and emergency department encounters for TBI, 1998-2011, were analyzed. Annual incidence rate of sport-related TBI was calculated, and rates were compared across demographic groups. Sport-related TBI severity was modeled as a function of demographic and TBI characteristics using logistic regression.


RESULTS
A total of 16,642 individuals with sport-related TBI yielded an average annual incidence rate of 31.5/100,000 population with a steady increase from 19.7 in 1998 to 45.6 in 2011. The most common mechanisms of sport-related TBI were kicked in football (38.1%), followed by fall injuries in sports (20.3%). Incidence rate was greatest in adolescents ages 12-18 (120.6/100,000/persons). Severe sport-related TBI was strongly associated with off-road vehicular sport (odds ratio [OR], 4.73; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.92-7.67); repeated head trauma (OR, 4.36; 95% CI, 3.69-5.15); equestrian sport (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.64-4.51); and falls during sport activities (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.67-4.46).


CONCLUSIONS
The high incidence of sport-related TBI in youth, potential for repetitive mild TBI, and its long-term consequences on learning warrants coordinated surveillance activities and population-based outcome studies.
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Electronic address: selassie@musc.edu.
Anbesaw W
AW
Selassie
Dulaney A
DA
Wilson
E Elisabeth
EE
Pickelsimer
Delia C
DC
Voronca
Nolan R
NR
Williams
Jonathan C
JC
Edwards
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D013177:Sports; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult
Concussion; Mechanism of injury; Repetitive TBI; Severity; Sport-related TBI