title: Long-term health outcomes after exposure to repeated concussion in elite level: rugby union players.
abstract: There is continuing concern about effects of concussion in athletes, including risk of the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, information on long-term health and wellbeing in former athletes is limited.
  
  
  
  Outcome after exposure to repeated brain injury was investigated in 52 retired male Scottish international rugby players (RIRP) and 29 male controls who were similar in age and social deprivation. Assessment included history of playing rugby and traumatic brain injury, general and mental health, life stress, concussion symptoms, cognitive function, disability and markers of chronic stress (allostatic load).
  
  
  
  The estimated number of concussions in RIRP averaged 14 (median=7; IQR 5-40). Performance was poorer in RIRP than controls on a test of verbal learning (p=0.022) and of fine co-ordination of the dominant hand (p=0.038) and not significantly different on other cognitive tests (p>0.05). There were no significant associations between number of concussions and performance on cognitive tests. Other than a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in controls, no group differences were detected in general or mental health or estimates of allostatic load. In RIRP, persisting symptoms attributed to concussion were more common if reporting more than nine concussions (p=0.028), although these symptoms were not perceived to affect social or work functioning.
  
  
  
  Despite a high number of concussions in RIRP, differences in mental health, social or work functioning were not found late after injury. Subtle group differences were detected on two cognitive tests, the cause of which is uncertain. Prospective group comparison studies on representative cohorts are required.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.affiliation: Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McSkimming
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wainman-Lefley
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Laboratory Medicine Building, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McConnachie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Laboratory Medicine Building, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.|Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012606:Scotland