A-33 Examining Acute Symptoms after Sport-Related Concussion in Collegiate Athletes with Pre-Injury Migraines

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To examine whether a personal history of migraines is associated with worse acute symptom burden following sport-related concussion (SRC) in collegiate athletes. Methods Data were collected through a prospective concussion surveillance system in 11 NCAA Division III college athletic programs between September 2014 and January 2023. Mann-Whitney U tests compared total Post Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) score and individual symptom scores (taken within 3 days of injury) between collegiate athletes with and without pre-injury migraines. Chi-squared tests were used to compare proportions of athletes endorsing individual symptoms (i.e., item score ≥1) between the two groups. Multivariable regression analyzed potential predictors of PCSS scores. Results Of 1,190 athletes with an SRC, 93 (7.8%) had a pre-injury history of migraines. No significant difference in total PCSS scores were found between athletes with and without pre-injury migraines (22.0±16.4 vs. 20.5±15.8; U=48719, p=.47). Athletes with pre-injury migraines reported greater “sensitivity to light” (1.59±1.59 vs. 1.23±1.41; p=.04) and “feeing more emotional” (0.91±1.27 vs. 0.70±1.30; p=.008). Athletes with migraine histories were more likely to endorse “feeing more emotional” (45.2% vs. 29.5%; p=.002). No differences were found across all other symptoms. In a multivariable model, history of migraine was not a significant predictor of acute PCSS scores, but those with a history of depression (β=0.12, p<.001) and longer days to symptom evaluation since injury (β=0.08, p=.005) had higher PCSS scores. Conclusions Collegiate athletes with a pre-existing history of migraines did not have higher acute symptom burden following SRC. Future studies should investigate whether migraine history is associated with recovery time.