Examining Changes in Sleep Between Concussed and Healthy Individuals Across Recovery

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To examine changes and the relationship between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores and the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–5th Edition (SCAT5) sleep symptom across recovery between concussed and healthy individuals. Methods Sixty-eight (18.12±2.6 years; male:n=47, female:n=21; concussed:n=38, healthy:n=30) individuals completed the PSQI and SCAT5 at three times across recovery (≤72 hours of injury, return-to-play (RTP), >one-month after RTP). Two mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance (ANOVAs) evaluated changes in PSQI scores and SCAT5 sleep symptom across recovery between concussed and healthy individuals. Spearman’s rho correlations were used to examine the relationships between the two sleep measures. Significance was set at p≤.05. Results There was no significant groupXtime interaction for PSQI scores (Wilks λ=.96, F(2,65)=1.50, p=.23, η2=.04) or SCAT5 sleep symptom (Wilks λ=.93, F(2,65)=2.42, p=.10, η2=.07). There was a significant main effect for time for PSQI scores (Wilks λ=.65, F(2,65)=17.2, p<.001, η2=.35) and SCAT5 sleep symptom (Wilks λ=.88, F(2,65)=4.25, p=.02, η2=.12) with PSQI scores and SCAT5 sleep symptom improving over time. For the SCAT5 sleep symptom there was a significant main effect for group (F(1,66)=13.41, p<.001, η2=.17), with concussed individuals reporting higher SCAT5 sleep symptom (M=0.59, SE=0.1) than healthy controls (M=0.09, SE=0.1). There was no significant correlation between PSQI scores and SCAT5 sleep symptom ≤72 hours (r=.15, p=.36), but there were significant correlations at RTP (r=.38, p=.02) and >one-month (r=.43, p=.01). Conclusion Global sleep quality changes throughout recovery and may influence post-concussion outcomes. Utilizing a specialized sleep measure along with sleep-related symptoms may be beneficial to healthcare professionals, specifically during acute concussion management.