Lifetime Prevalence of Self-Reported Concussion Among Adolescents Involved in Competitive Sports: A National U.S. Study

Examine lifetime prevalence of diagnosed concussion in US-national samples of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders involved in 16 different competitive sports; examine associations between concussion and individual sports, controlling for demographic characteristics and multiple sports involvement. Analysis of nationally representative Monitoring the Future data from 2 cohorts (2016–2017; n = 25,408). Adolescents who participated in baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, track, weightlifting, and ‘other sports’ had greater odds of reporting multiple diagnosed concussions compared with peers not participating in these sports. Adolescents who participated in tennis had lower odds of reporting any diagnosed concussion or multiple concussions. Females who participated in gymnastics, soccer, and swimming showed a stronger association in reporting a diagnosed concussion when compared with males who participated in these same types of sports. The study provides needed epidemiological information on prevalence of reported diagnosed concussion among teens participating in popular school and community sports. Certain high contact (e.g., football) and high volume (e.g., basketball) sports need increased efforts to manage adolescent athletes who already have a history of concussion or repeated concussions.