Illness prevalence and symptoms in youth floorball players: a one-season prospective cohort study involving 471 players

OBJECTIVE: To describe weekly illness prevalence and illness symptoms by sex in youth floorball players during one season. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Players who were registered to play community level floorball during the 2017-2018 season (26 weeks) in two provinces in southern Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 471 youth players aged 12-17 years. Mean (SD) age for 329 male players 13.3 (1.0) years and 142 female players 13.7 (1.5) years. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Weekly self-reported illness prevalence and illness symptoms according to the 2020 International Olympic Committee's consensus recommendations. RESULTS: 61% of youth floorball players reported at least one illness week during the season, with an average weekly illness prevalence of 12% (95% CI 10.8% to 12.3%). The prevalence was slightly higher among females (13%, 95% CI 11.6% to 14.3%) than males (11%, 95% CI 9.9% to 11.7%), prevalence rate ratio 1.20 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.37, p=0.009). In total, 49% (53% male, 43% female) of illness reports indicated that the player could not participate in floorball (time loss), with a mean (SD) absence of 2.0 (1.7) days per illness week. Fever (30%), sore throat (16%) and cough (14%) were the most common symptoms. Female players more often reported difficulty in breathing/tight airways and fainting, and male players more often reported coughing, feeling tired/feverish and headache. Illness prevalence was highest in the peak winter months (late January/February) reaching 15%-18% during this period. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel findings of the illness prevalence and symptoms in youth floorball may help direct prevention strategies. Athletes, coaches, parents and support personnel need to be educated about risk mitigation strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03309904.