Abstract
Purpose
Examine lifetime history of concussions in middle school student athletes who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods
A sample of 1,037 students from nine middle schools in Virginia, USA (ages 11 to 14, M=12.6, SD=0.93; 45.8% girls) underwent baseline/pre-season assessments during the 2017-2018 academic year and self-reported their health history, including whether or not they had been diagnosed with ADHD and their concussion history. Athletes were divided into two groups, those with ADHD (n=71; 6.8%) and control subjects (n=966). Chi-Square tests were conducted to compare the number of prior concussions in students with and without ADHD.
Results
In the total sample, boys were more likely to report a prior history of concussion than girls [χ2(1) =10.81, p=.001; OR=1.92; 95% CI=1.30-2.85]. The frequency of prior concussion in children with ADHD (23.9%) was twice the frequency of prior concussion among children without ADHD (11.4%) [χ2(1)=9.70, p=.002; OR=2.45; 95% CI=1.37-4.38]. Approximately one in four boys with ADHD (24.5%) and one in five girls with ADHD (22.2%) reported having sustained one or more prior concussions.
Conclusion
ADHD is associated with a greater prevalence of prior concussion in middle school children. Further research is needed to understand the risk of sustaining concussion for young athletes with ADHD, as well as short- and long-term outcomes of concussion among young athletes with ADHD.
