Participation in sports clubs is a strong predictor of injury hospitalization: a prospective cohort study

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the nature and risk factors of injuries leading to hospitalization. A cohort of 57 407 Finns aged 14–18 years was followed in the Hospital Discharge Register for an average of 10.6 years, totaling 608 990 person‐years. We identified 5889 respondents (10.3%) with injury hospitalization. The most common anatomical location was the knee and shin (23.9%), followed by the head and neck (17.8%), and the ankle and foot (16.7%). Fractures (30.4%) and distortions (25.4%) were the most common injury types. The strongest risk factor for injury hospitalization was frequent participation in sports clubs [hazard ratio (HR) in males 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7–2.0 and in females 2.3; 95% CI: 1.9–2.7], followed by recurring drunkenness (HR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.4–2.7 in males and 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2–1.6 in females) and daily smoking (HR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.3–1.5 in males and 1.43 95% CI: 1.2–1.5 in females). The association between injuries and sports clubs participation remained after adjusting for sociodemographic background, health, and health behaviors. Health behavior in adolescence, particularly sports club activity, predicted injury hospitalization. Preventive interventions directed toward adolescents who participate in sports clubs may decrease injury occurrence.