Season and Sport-Specific Adolescent Concussions via Online Surveillance in New Jersey Public High Schools 2015–2017

Abstract

Despite increased awareness of concussions among student-athletes, local epidemiologic surveillance efforts are limited, especially among adolescents. We analyzed data reported through a state public-school-based online surveillance tool during the fall (summer preseason and regular season), winter, and spring seasons of the 2015–2017 school years at seven participating public high schools across New Jersey. Concussions were sustained during interscholastic and intramural sports and in physical education classes. There were 208 concussions: 142 in fall (123 regular season), 22 in winter (21 regular season), and 44 in spring. Reports stated 75% were first concussions, but 17% were second and 2% were third concussions.

Incidence reporting via online high school concussion surveillance by certified athletic trainers and school nurses, 2015–2018

“…The remaining concussions occurred during other sports, physical education, other activities, or when activity type was not reported. At least one concussion was reported for football, cheerleading, field hockey, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, volleyball, wrestling, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, baseball/softball, boys' lacrosse, girls' lacrosse, track and field, physical education including Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Basic Training, golf, and other activities (Shendell et al 2018;Shendell et al 2019).…”

“…The study was approved by the Rutgers University Institutional Review Board (#Pro20150001455). Details of the community and school-based process to develop this school-based online surveillance form are available in previous publications (Shendell et al 2018;Shendell et al 2019). Consenting, voluntarily participating schools were part of a convenience sample throughout the state of NJ, representing northern, central, and southern regions of the state, for a total of 12 school districts in eight counties.…”

“…Activity type taking place at time of injury was specifically asked in the 2017-2018 survey, although we were able to infer activity type for all except eleven injuries among HS students in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years based on personal protective equipment worn and short answer responses by ATCs and school nurses, which provided details and nature of the injury. Details of the other variables, specifically for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, are available in previous publications (Shendell et al 2018;Shendell et al 2019). Surveillance data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Inc.) and SAS (v.9.4,Cary,NC).…”

“…Recently, CDC published on the diagnosis and treatment of concussion in children (Lumba-Brown et al 2018), the first evidence-based (Lumba-Brown et al 2018;Covassin et al 2013;Kontos et al 2012;Merritt and Arnett 2014;Merritt et al 2015;Lau et al 2011) guidelines for treatment of concussion for U.S. children. The present study analyzed reported student-athlete concussion data from three consecutive school years (2015)(2016)(2017)(2018), as reported by a certified athletic trainers (ATCs) and school nurses, employed full time, at public secondary or HS throughout New Jersey (NJ) to an online surveillance system (Shendell et al 2018;Shendell et al 2019). Numbers of post-concussion symptoms reported within a week of injury were also analyzed to initially compare symptoms reported by school nurses versus school ATCs.…”

“…Numbers of post-concussion symptoms reported within a week of injury were also analyzed to initially compare symptoms reported by school nurses versus school ATCs. We estimated concussion incidence rates by school year and by season for three school years 2015-2018, to expand on previously published descriptive epidemiology (Shendell et al 2018;Shendell et al 2019).…”