Contact or Collision Sport History, Repetitive Neurotrauma, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Early to Midadulthood

Abstract

Context Data on the early to midlife effects of repetitive neurotrauma on patient-reported outcomes have been delimited to homogeneous samples of male athletes without comparison groups or accounting for modifying factors such as physical activity.

Objective To determine the effect of contact or collision sport participation and repetitive neurotrauma on patient-reported outcomes among early to middle-aged adults.

Design Cross-sectional study.

Setting Research laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants A total of 113 adults (53 [46.9%] men, 60 [53.1%] women; age = 34.88 ± 11.80 years) in 4 groups: (1) physically inactive individuals with no repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure (NON); (2) noncontact sport athletes and nonathletes with no RHI exposure who were currently physically active (NCA); (3) former high-risk sport athletes with an RHI history who were physically active (HRS); and (4) former rugby players with prolonged RHI exposure who remained physically active.

Main Outcome Measure(s) The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Apathy Evaluation Scale–self-rated version (AES-S), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–5th Edition (SCAT5) Symptom and Symptom Severity Checklist.

Results The NON group had worse self-rated physical function than the NCA group as assessed by the SF-12 physical component summary (P = .03) and worse self-rated apathy (AES-S) and satisfaction with life (SWLS) than the NCA (P = .03 for both) and HRS groups (P = .03 and P = .040, respectively). We observed no group differences for self-rated mental health (SF-12 mental component summary; P = .26) or symptoms (SCAT5; P = .42). Career duration was not associated with any patient-reported outcomes.

Conclusions A history of contact or collision sport participation and career duration did not negatively affect patient-reported outcomes in physically active, early to middle-aged adults. However, physical inactivity status was negatively associated with patient-reported outcomes in these individuals in the absence of an RHI history.

Key Points - The midlife and later-life effects of repetitive head impacts paired with physical activity on patient-reported outcomes need to be elucidated. - Contact or collision sport participation and career duration were unrelated to worse patient-reported outcomes in early to midadulthood among physically active individuals. - Physical inactivity may be a more important modifier of patient-reported outcomes in early to midadulthood than repetitive neurotrauma exposure.