A - 159 The Influence of Sleep Duration on Reported Post-Concussion Symptoms Following Cognitive Exertion.

Abstract

To investigate the influence of self-reported sleep disturbance on post-concussion symptom clusters after completing the ImPACT concussion screening tool in collegiate athletes. Participants (N&#3f215) were selected from a deidentified sports medicine ImPACT database. Participants were stratified into groups based on self-reported sleep disturbance: intact sleep duration (n = 150, Mage = 19.2, Medu = 11.8,64.7% female) and hyposomnia (n = 65, Mage = 22.5, Medu = 13.8,72.3% female). Data were included from the first post-injury follow-up session. Groups did not differ in gender, age, or years of education. ANCOVAs were used to test for differences in cognitive, physical, and neuropsychiatric symptom clusters post-ImPACT while controlling for pre-ImPACT symptoms and previous concussions. ANCOVA indicated a significant effect of sleep duration on cognitive (F(1,192) = 13.01,p < 0.001,ηp2 = 0.063), physical (F(1,154) = 7.29,p = 0.008,ηp2 = 0.045), and neuropsychiatric (F(1,192) = 6.24,p = 0.013,ηp2 = 0.031) symptoms reported after completing the ImPACT screening assessment. Mean comparisons revealed that the hyposomnia group reported symptom scores 1.5 points greater on cognitive (SE = 0.42), 1.4 points greater on physical (SE = 0.52), and 0.78 points greater on neuropsychiatric (SE = 0.31) symptom clusters. Results indicated that athletes who endorsed sleeping less during concussion recovery reported greater symptom scores after completing cognitive screening when controlling for pre-screening symptoms. These findings align with previous research suggesting that sleep dysfunction may negatively impact the recovery process. Our findings suggest that reduced sleep duration may lead to worsened symptoms following cognitive exertion, thereby exacerbating deficits and potentially lengthening the recovery trajectory. As a result, these athletes may benefit from interventions targeting sleep and a gradual return to sport.