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Background: Growing interest has motivated recent studies to examine differences in recovery after sport-related concussion (SRC) by sex. However, heterogeneity in study design, participants, and recovery outcomes has led to mixed findings. Further work is needed to evaluate potential differences by sex and to investigate the role of related characteristics, such as sport contact-level, in recovery timelines. This study aimed to investigate whether concussion recovery trajectories differ by sex, considering a priori clinical and demographic covariates, and accounting for the sequence of recovery outcomes. Our secondary question was whether sport contact-level modifies the relationship between sex and time to outcomes. Using data from the Ivy League–Big Ten Epidemiology of Concussion Study, we included SRCs reported across five academic years; 2015–2020 (February 2020). We used Cox proportional hazards regressions to estimate associations between sex and time from injury to three outcomes: (1) symptom resolution, (2) return to academics, (3) return to full play, accounting for measured confounders. Results: Among 1160 SRCs (male, n = 667; female, n = 493) with complete data, median age overall was 20 years (25th-75th percentiles:19–21), and most occurred among athletes playing high-contact sports (78.0%). Males were slightly more likely to complete symptom resolution over time compared to females (HR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.05–1.33), but results were attenuated in fully adjusted models (HR 1.13, 95%CI = 0.99–1.29). Similarly, the HR of full academic return for males compared to females was 1.22 (95%CI = 1.07–1.38), but was attenuated in fully adjusted models (HR = 1.11, 95%CI = 0.97–1.28). The HR of full return to play for males compared to females was 1.14 (95%CI = 1.02–1.28), and was attenuated after adjustment (HR = 1.06, 95%CI = 0.93–1.20) as well. The interaction between sex and playing a high/low-contact sport was not statistically significant across models, though differences were apparent. Conclusions: Among a cohort of collegiate athletes with SRC, recovery timelines appeared similar between male and female athletes, adjusting for measured confounders. Differences by sex, considering sport contact-level, were evident and may be important clinically and in future studies. This study used robust methods, accounting for nesting in the sequence of RTP outcomes. Results inform concussion management protocols and planned qualitative work to further elucidate how collegiate athletes experience concussion recovery. Key Points: Heterogeneity in study design, participants, and recovery outcomes has led to mixed findings in determining differences in recovery trajectories after concussion by sex. We found that having longer time to symptom resolution, and also the sequence of having academic return before symptoms resolve and longer time to academic return were confounders in the relationship between sex and RTP timelines. Time to sequential recovery outcomes appeared similar between male and female athletes, adjusting for observable confounders. Further differences by sex were evident when considering contact-level, and may be important to consider clinically and in future research. Results indicate that differences in concussion recovery trajectories by sex may be largely attributed to and driven by differences in sports with a men's or women's team only, such as football, and this should be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nearly 3 million children participate in youth soccer annually in the United States. Popularity of youth soccer within recent years has prompted investigation describing youth-soccer concussion trends presenting to United States emergency departments (EDs)., Methods: Data from National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were analyzed for soccer players 2-18 years old sustaining concussions from January 2013 to December 2022. Patient data included age, sex, mechanism of injury, setting (practice vs. game), diagnosis, loss of consciousness, and disposition. Raw data were used to calculate national estimates based on assigned statistical sample weight of each hospital., Results: A total of 80,582 youth soccer concussions were diagnosed in US EDs (51.0% female, 49.0% male). The most common mechanism of injury was head to ball (31.0%). On average, overall concussions decreased by 572 per year ( p  = 0.02). Head to body concussions decreased by 169 per year ( p < 0.01) and head to ground concussions decreased by 155 per year ( p  < 0.01). No changes per year in concussion trends for head to ball, head to head, not specified, and other mechanisms. Exclusion of years 2020 and 2021 (COVID), demonstrated decreases in concussions for head to body by 125 ( p = 0.01) and head to ground mechanisms by 135 per year ( p  = 0.01)., Conclusion: There is a decreasing trend in youth soccer head injuries and concussions presenting to US emergency departments from 2013 to 2022. The trends from this study indicate that heading may be the most important aspect of soccer-related concussions presenting to US emergency departments. This study contributes to the growing literature regarding concussions in youth soccer athletes.