Table 1.
Sample Characteristics
| NFL (n = 68) | Controls (n = 21) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic/Athletic | |||
| Age, mean (SD) years | 54.50 (7.95) | 57.57 (7.10) | 0.12 |
| Education, mean (SD) years | 16.44 (0.97) | 17.38 (2.22) | 0.07 |
| a African American, n (%) | 29 (42.65) | 1 (4.76) | 0.001 |
| Duration of football play, mean (SD) years | 18.67 (3.56) | -- | -- |
| Years in the NFL, mean (SD) | 8.30 (2.89) | -- | -- |
| Cumulative Head Impact Index, mean (SD) | 20,304.87 (6195.14) | -- | -- |
| Primary Position Group, n (%) | -- | ||
| Offensive line | 20 (29.41) | -- | -- |
| Running back | 5 (7.35) | -- | -- |
| Tight end | 5 (7.35) | -- | -- |
| Offensive skill | 0 | -- | -- |
| Defensive line | 12 (17.65) | -- | -- |
| Linebacker | 14 (20.59) | -- | -- |
| Defensive Back | 12 (17.65) | -- | -- |
| Body mass index, mean (SD) kg/m2 | 32.67 (4.43) | 28.36 (3.84) | <0.001 |
The control group was required to be asymptomatic and have no history of head trauma.
a
Independent sample t-tests were performed for continuous outcomes and Fisher’s Exact Test was used to compare group differences in race.