B-64 Symptom Reporting and Cognitive Functioning in Middle School Athletes with Past Concussions

Abstract

Abstract Objective We examined the association between past concussions and current preseason symptom reporting and cognitive performance in boys participating in school sports. Method A sample of 2,582 boys ages 11-13 completed neurocognitive testing prior to participating in a school sport, using ImPACT®, between 2009-2015. A minority reported prior concussions: 0 (n = 2,244, 86.9%), 1 (n = 261, 10.1%), and ≥2 (n = 77, 3.0%). Results There was a significant difference in total symptom scores across groups (Kruskall-Wallis = 10.75, p = .005). Those with ≥2 prior concussions reported more symptoms than those with 0 concussions (p = .004, Cohen’s d = 0.41). A multivariate regression examining the contribution of concussion history and developmental/health history to symptom reporting was significant [F(7, 2,267) = 16.80, p < .001]. The following were independent predictors of symptoms scores (in descending order of strength): treatment for a psychiatric condition, treatment for headaches, history of learning disability, age, and history of ADHD. Prior concussion history was not a significant independent predictor in this multivariate model. There was a very small omnibus difference in visual motor speed (ANOVA, F = 4.10, p = .02); athletes with 1 prior concussion performed worse than those with no prior concussions (Tukey p = .01; d = 0.19). There were no significant differences on the other cognitive variables. Conclusions Boys with two or more prior concussions reported more symptoms than those with no prior concussions, but performed similarly on cognitive testing. The strongest predictors of current symptom reporting were a prior history of treatment for mental health problems or headaches, and a personal history of learning disability.