title: Long-term consequences of recurrent sports concussion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent concussions are suspected to promote the development of long-term neurological disorders. The study was designed to assess the prevalence of major depressive disorder, mild cognitive disorders and headache in a population of retired high-level sportsmen and rugby players and to study the link between scores evaluating these disorders and the number of reported concussions (RCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 239 retired rugby players (RRPs) and 138 other retired sportsmen (ORSs) who had reached the French national or international championship level between 1985 and 1990 filled in a self-administered questionnaire describing their sociodemographic data, comorbidities and reported history of RC. A phone interview was then conducted using validated questionnaires for the detection of major depressive disorder (PHQ-9), mild cognitive disorders (F-TICS-m) and headache (HIT-6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RRPs reported a higher number of RCs than ORSs (p < 0.001). A higher rate of major depressive disorder (PHQ-9 score >9) was observed among RRPs compared to ORSs (9% versus 6%) (p = 0.04), and the PHQ-9 score increased with the number of RCs regardless of the type of sport (p = 0.026). A higher rate of mild cognitive disorders (TICS-m score ≤30) was observed in RRPs compared to ORSs (57% versus 40%, p = 0.005), but no association was found with the number of RC. The HIT-6 score increased with the number of RCs (p = 0.019) CONCLUSIONS: More than 20 years after the end of their career, RRPs present higher rates of depression and lower F-TICS-m scores in favor of mild cognitive impairment compared with ORSs. PHQ-9 and HIT-6 scores were significantly associated with the number of RCs.
authors.affiliation: Georges Charpak Human Biomecanics Institute, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Paris, France. philippe.decq@aphp.fr.|Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Neurosurgery, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France. philippe.decq@aphp.fr.|René Diderot Paris 7 Medical University, Paris, France. philippe.decq@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Decq
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Epidemiology and Clinical Research Department, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gault
authors.affiliation: Georges Charpak Human Biomecanics Institute, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Paris, France.|Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Neurosurgery, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blandeau
authors.affiliation: Georges Charpak Human Biomecanics Institute, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Paris, France.|Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Neurosurgery, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerdraon
authors.affiliation: Georges Charpak Human Biomecanics Institute, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, Paris, France.|Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Neurosurgery, Beaujon Hospital, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Miassa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkal
authors.affiliation: Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: ElHelou
authors.affiliation: Ligue Nationale de Rugby, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dusfour
authors.affiliation: Fédération Française de Rugby, Marcoussis, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Peyrin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Cognitive disorder; Concussion; Depression; Headache; Rugby