A - 03 Concussion Symptom Reporting in Sport-Related Concussions During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

ObjectiveEvaluation of concussion symptoms is a key element in management of sport-related concussions (SRC). The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased reports of anxiety and depression in the general population, though it is unknown if this increase has also affected reporting of concussion symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in reporting of concussion symptoms in adolescents who sustained an SRC before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSubjects (n = 707) aged 12–18 with SRC were evaluated within 14 days of injury (M = 5.64 days, SD = 3.68) at a North Texas Concussion Registry (ConTex) clinic and completed the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT-5) Symptom Evaluation. Subjects were grouped by those evaluated before (n = 625) or after (n = 82) March 23, 2020 and were similar in age, sex, and history of treatment for anxiety or depression. T-tests were used to compare the number of endorsed concussion symptoms and symptom severity between groups.ResultsThere was no significant difference in number of concussion symptoms endorsed (M = 10.81, SD = 6.53 vs M = 11.35, SD = 6.25, p = 0.463) or symptom severity (M = 28.33, SD = 24.14, M = 26.79, SD = 20.91, p = 0.540) between before vs during COVID-19 SRC groups.ConclusionsIn this cohort of young athletes, results suggest that despite effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on community mental health, we did not see evidence of a systematic influence on SRC symptom reporting during the pandemic.