title: Sports-related brain injury in the general population: an epidemiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence, nature and severity of all sports-related brain injuries in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based epidemiological incidence study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on all traumatic brain injury events sustained during a sports-related activity were extracted from a dataset of all new traumatic brain injury cases (both fatal and non-fatal), identified over a one-year period in the Hamilton and Waikato districts of New Zealand. Prospective and retrospective case ascertainment methods from multiple sources were used. All age groups and levels of traumatic brain injury severity were included. Details of the registering injuries and recurrent injuries sustained over the subsequent year were obtained through medical/accident records and assessment interviews with participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1369 incident traumatic brain injury cases, 291 were identified as being sustained during a sports-related activity (21% of all traumatic brain injuries) equating to an incidence rate of 170 per 100,000 of the general population. Recurrent injuries occurred more frequently in adults (11%) than children (5%). Of the sports-related injuries 46% were classified as mild with a high risk of complications. Injuries were most frequently sustained during rugby, cycling and equestrian activities. It was revealed that up to 19% of traumatic brain injuries were not recorded in medical notes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the high incidence of new and recurrent traumatic brain injury and the high risk of complications following injury, further sport specific injury prevention strategies are urgently needed to reduce the impact of traumatic brain injury and facilitate safer engagement in sports activities. The high levels of 'missed' traumatic brain injuries, highlights the importance in raising awareness of traumatic brain injury during sports-related activity in the general population.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Environmental Science, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Electronic address: alice.theadom@aut.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theadom
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Waikato, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Starkey
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care and General Practice, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dowell
authors.affiliation: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Faculty of Health and Environmental Studies, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Patria A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.affiliation: Waikato Occupational Service Ltd., New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kahan
authors.affiliation: Person Centred Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Environmental Studies, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Environmental Science, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feigin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain injury; Concussion; Epidemiology; Incidence; Population-based; Sport and recreation