923 MEP050 – Sex-specific differences in the relationship between symptoms and recovery time for patients with concussion seen at a university sport medicine clinic

AbstractBackground Prevention, diagnosis, and management of concussion are complex and challenging. Evidence suggests females experience more symptoms and take longer to recover than males.Objective To explore differences in presentation, treatment and recovery time between males and females with concussion. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting University sports medicine clinic.Participants All patients diagnosed with concussion seen by a clinic Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) physician between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2023. There were 766 patients (322 female, 442 male) seen over 2173 visits for 865 discrete injuries.Interventions Independent variables included age, sex, injury mechanism; time to initial appointment, and previous healthcare professionals seen. Symptom number and severity at initial assessment were measured using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT3/5). Therapy prescribed, and time from injury to return to sport (RTS), school (RTL), or work (RTW) were examined.Main Outcome Measurements Time (days) from injury to RTS, RTL, and RTW, initial symptom severity, and therapy prescribed were compared between males and females. Linear regressions examining symptom severity and times from injury to RTS, RTL, and RTW were conducted, and correlation coefficients compared using Fisher's transformation.Results Females had significantly longer times from injury to RTS (p<0.001) and RTW (p<0.05). Symptom number and severity on initial visit were greater and correlated more positively with RTS for females than males (p<0.05). On the initial visit, females were prescribed medication and referred to other healthcare professionals significantly more frequently than males. Conclusions These results reinforce previous findings of longer recovery times for females sustaining concussions. Higher frequencies of prescribed therapy suggest a connection between increased symptoms and longer recovery time. This information, and future research, will further understanding of differences between males and females impacted by concussion, to better inform our approach to prevention and treatment of concussions in females.