Studies, n (%) | Total number of athletes, n (%) | Number of athletes in studies (n=8) with exclusively American football players, n (%)4 16 36 40 47 56 58 59 | Number of athletes in studies including exclusively male, n (%)4 16 22 25 35 36 40 43 45–47 53 56–59 | |
Total | 334 7 15 16 19–23 25 29 30 32–36 40–48 50 52 53 56–59 | 2416 | 628 (26.0) | 881 (36.5) |
Mean age in years | 274 15 16 19–21 23 25 29 32 34 36 40–44 46–48 50 52 53 56–59 | 17.4*±4.6 | 17.0±1.4 | 18.4±2.2 |
Sports | ||||
American football | 19 (57.6)4 7 16 19 21 23 29 30 34 36 40–42 47 48 52 56 58 59 | 1191 (49.3) | 628 (71.3) | |
Rugby | 3 (9.1)35 48 53 | 119 (4.9) | 111 (12.6) | |
Australian rules football | 6 (18.2)22 25 43 45 46 57 | 142 (5.9) | 142 (16.1) | |
Football (soccer) | 11 (33.3)7 19 21 23 29 30 34 41 42 48 52 | 85 (3.5) | NA | |
Ice hockey | 4 (12.1)7 23 33 48 | 29 (1.2) | NA | |
Basketball | 8 (24.2)7 19 21 29 30 42 48 52 | 53 (2.2) | NA | |
Other sports | 14 (42.4)15 19–21 23 29 30 32 41 42 44 48 50 52 | 797 (33.0) | NA | |
Level of play | ||||
High-school/college | 19 (57.6)4 7 15 19–21 23 29 32 36 40–44 47 52 56 58 | 1961 (81.2) | 524 (83.4) | 553 (62.8) |
University | 3 (9.1)33 34 48 | 52 (2.2) | ||
Amateur | 3 (9.1)25 46 53 | 55 (2.3] | 55 (6.2) | |
Professional | 6 (18.2)22 35 45 46 57 59 | 264 (10.9) | 95 (15.1) | 264 (30.0) |
Not specified | 2 (6.1)16 30 | 84 (3.5) | 9 (1.4) | 9 (1.0) |
Who made the diagnosis of SRC? | ||||
Athletic trainer | 5 (15.2)4 25 30 36 56 58 | 426 (17.6) | 418 (66.6) | 426 (48.4) |
Certified trainer | 7 (21.2)19 29 32 41 42 44 47 | 899 (37.2) | 91 (14.5) | 91 (10.3) |
Team medical staff | 9 (27.3)7 16 22 45 46 50 52 53 57 | 525 (21.7) | 9 (1.4) | 160 (18.2) |
Team physician | 5 (15.2)21 35 40 43 48 | 184 (7.6) | 15 (2.4) | 109 (12.4) |
Physician | 4 (12.1)20 30 33 34 | 105 (4.3) | ||
Neuropsychologist | 1 (3.0)59 | 95 (3.9) | 95 (15.1) | 95 (10.8) |
Not specified | 2 (6.1)15 23 | 182 (7.5) | ||
Where was the diagnosis made? | ||||
Sideline | 19 (57.6)4 7 16 19 21 25 29 32 33 36 40–44 47 52 56 58 | 1539 (63.7) | 533 (84.9) | 570 (64.7) |
Clinical setting | 2 (6.1)20 35 | 75 (3.1) | 65 (7.4) | |
Not specified | 12 (36.4)15 16 22 23 30 34 45 46 48 50 53 57 59 | 802 (33.2) | 95 (15.1) | 246 (27.9) |
When did the ‘first’ evaluation took place? | ||||
Immediately | 19 (57.6)4 7 21 25 30 32–36 40–43 47 52 56–58 | 1236 (51.2) | 524 (83.4) | 687 (78.0) |
<24 hours | 1 (3.0)16 | 9 (0.4) | 9 (1.4) | 9 (1.0) |
24 to 48 hours | 2 (6.1)19 29 | 244 (10.1) | ||
>48 hours | 4 (12.1)20 44 46 53 | 322 (13.3) | 52 (5.9) | |
Not specified (declared as FU examination) | 7 (21.2) | 605 (25.0) | 95 (15.1) | 133 (15.1) |
<24 hours | 148 | |||
>24 to 48 hours | 322 | |||
>48 hours | 315 | |||
Baseline tests | ||||
Neurocogitive testing | 24 (72.7)4 7 16 19 21–23 29 30 32–34 36 41–43 46–48 50 52 56–59 | 1896 (78.5) | 613 (97.6) | 719 (81.6) |
Balance | 8 (24.2)20 30 33 40 41 48 50 58 | 617 (25.5) | 118 (17.4) | 109 (12.4) |
Ocular motor function | 2 (6.1)15 16 | 87 (3.6) | 9 (1.4) | 9 (1.0) |
*Mean age was calculated based on the information on mean age and SD and in relation to total number of athletes included in each study (all: n=23 studies); AF, n=7 studies; male: n=12 studies, 10 studies did not provide full information.
AF, American football; FU, follow-up; NA, not available; SRC, sport-related concussion.