• Adam C Raikes, Amy Athey, Pamela Alfonso-Miller, Killgore William D S WDS Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States., and Michael A Grandner.
• Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States. Electronic address: raikes.research@gmail.com.
• Sleep Med. 2019 Jun 1; 58: 66-74.

Objective/BackgroundPoor quality and inadequate sleep are associated with impaired cognitive, motor, and behavioral components of sport performance and increased injury risk. While prior work identifies sports-related concussions as predisposing factors for poor sleep, the role of sleep as a sports-related concussion risk factor is unknown. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of poor sleep quality and insomnia symptoms on future sports-related concussion risk.Patients/MethodsIn this study, 190 NCAA Division-1 athletes completed a survey battery, including the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Sleep module. Univariate risk ratios for future sports-related concussions were computed with ISI and NHANES sleepiness scores as independent predictors. An additional multiple logistic regression model including sport, sports-related concussion history, and significant univariate predictors jointly assessed the odds of sustaining a concussion.ResultsClinically moderate-to-severe insomnia severity (RR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.320-7.424, p = 0.015) and excessive daytime sleepiness two or more times per month (RR = 2.856, 95% CI: 0.681-11.977, p = 0.037) increased concussion risk. These variables remained significant and comparable in magnitude in a multivariate model adjusted for sport participation.ConclusionInsomnia and daytime sleepiness are independently associated with increased sports-related concussion risk. More completely identifying bidirectional relationships between concussions and sleep requires further research. Clinicians and athletes should be cognizant of this relationship and take proactive measures - including assessing and treating sleep-disordered breathing, limiting insomnia risk factors, improving sleep hygiene, and developing daytime sleepiness management strategies - to reduce sports-related concussion risk and support overall athletic performance.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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