Table A2.
Characteristics of Studies on Concussion Outcomes (n = 9) a
| Lead Author, Year (Country) | Study Design | Sport | Participant Age, y b | Female, % | Methods | Neurocognitive Performance | Symptoms | Injury Severity/Time Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broshek 7 2005 (USA) | Cohort | Soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, basketball, cheerleading, football, wrestling, other | F: 17.5 M: 19.7 |
24.5 | CRI | Greater declines in cognitive function in women than men | More symptoms in women; similar constellations of symptoms between sexes | No difference between sexes |
| Covassin 10 2013 (USA) | Cohort | Soccer | F: 17.78 ± 2.3 M: 17.69 ± 2.1 |
58.9 | ImPACT | Lower performance on visual memory composite scores in women than men | Higher scores on total symptoms in women than men | NR |
| Dougan 16 2014 (Australia) | Meta-analysis | Australian Rules football, boxing, American football, ice hockey, rugby, soccer | Adolescent/ adult | NR | Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 2 | Female sex was a key risk factor for greater neuropsychological deficits 10 days after concussion | Fewer symptoms 10 days after concussion in women than men | NR |
| Ellemberg 17 2007 (Canada) | Case-control | Soccer | F cases: 22.7 F controls: 22.3 |
100 | California Verbal Learning Task, Ruff 2&7 Selective Attention Test, Brief Test of Attention, Symbol Digits Modalities Test, Stroop Color Word Test, Tower of London–Drexel University, Letter Fluency Test, Forward/Backward Digit Span, Simple Reaction Time, Choice Reaction Time | Women experienced prolonged cognitive sequelae after a first sports-related concussion | NR | NR |
| Lopez 34 2016 (USA) | Cohort | Rugby | F: 24.3 ± 4.8 M: 23.4 ± 5.0 |
28.4 | Time loss in days | NR | NR | More days needed to return to full-contact play in women vs men |
| Maher 35 2014 (Canada) | Review | Soccer | Youth/ adolescent/ adult | NR | NR | Worse performance on neuropsychological tests in female players | Significantly more symptoms of concussion in women than men | NR |
| Schick 46 2003 (Canada) | Cohort | Ice hockey | F: 23.5 M: 20.9 |
43.7 | Time loss in days | NR | NR | Fewer sessions missed after injury in women than men |
| Stojsih 55 2010 (USA) | Cohort | Boxing | F: 24 M: 22 |
50 | ImPACT Concussion management software, HIC, GSI | Decrease for delayed memory postscores for both sexes after subconcussive blows, no other neurocognitive impairments, no difference between sexes | NR | No significant difference between sexes |
| Vedung 58 2020 (Sweden) | Cohort | Soccer | F: 23 ± 4.2 M: 25 ± 4.6 |
40.6 | SCAT | NR | Worse initial symptoms and a higher number of symptoms 48 h and 3 mo after concussion in female vs male players | More days needed to return to full contact play for female vs male players |
a
CRI, Concussion Resolution Index; F, female; GSI, Gadd Severity Index; HIC, Head Injury Criterion; ImPACT, Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test; M, male; NR, not reported; SCAT, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool.
b
Data are presented as mean, mean ± SD, or mean (range). Competition level is given where specific ages were not provided.