Key result
Former college football players show ~46% lower mortality but higher cognitive impairment versus the general population.
Why the study?
Most research on the long-term health consequences of playing American football has focused on former professional athletes, leaving limited studies of former college players.
Does participation in college American football affect long-term health outcomes and mortality in former players?
Population
447 former University of Notre Dame football players aged 59 to 75 years
Comparison
Former college football players vs general population men and matched HRS participants
Design
Cohort study
Authors
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May warrant cognitive screening in former players despite lower mortality; leaves open net health effects of college football.
Cohort (n=447)
No
Does participation in college American football affect long-term health outcomes and mortality in former players?
Effect estimate: SMR 0.54 (95% CI 0.42-0.67)
Former college football players showed increased prevalence of certain health conditions like cognitive impairment and cardiovascular disease, but lower overall mortality compared to the general population.
Phelps et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Former college American football players (n=447). Participation in college American football vs. Men in the general population was evaluated on All-cause mortality (SMR 0.54, 95% CI 0.42-0.67). Former college football players had lower all-cause mortality (SMR 0.54; 95% CI 0.42-0.67) but higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (5% vs 1%; P=0.02) compared with the general population.
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