Athletes with a pre-injury migraine history may be at an elevated risk for a protracted return to school after concussion, especially girls and women, according to a recent study. High school and collegiate athletes (n=1265; 42% female) who sustained a sport-related concussion were monitored by athletic trainers using a web-based surveillance system that collects information about concussion recovery. Researchers found:
- There were 117 athletes (9.2%) who reported a pre-injury migraine history.
- Athletes with a history of migraine took a median of 6 days to return to academics and 15.5 days to return to athletics, while those with no migraine history took a median of 5 days to return to academics and 14 days to return to athletics.
- There were no statistically significant differences in days to return to school or athletics between the groups.
- However, a lower percentage of athletes with a history of migraine had returned to school after 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days post-injury.
- Stratifying the analyses by sex showed that this effect was significant in girls and women with pre-existing migraines, but not boys and men with pre-existing migraines.
Pre-injury migraine history as a risk factor for prolonged return to school and sports following concussion. [Published online ahead of print May 5, 2018]. J Neurotrauma . doi:10.1089/neu.2017.5443.