Concussion history influences sleep disturbances, symptoms, and quality of life in collegiate student-athletes

Immediately after experiencing a concussion, many will report the presence of a variety of symptoms, which may include disturbances in sleep. It is possible that these symptoms and other resulting quality of life (QOL) disturbances may persist for some time following a concussion. The purpose of this study was to determine if a history of concussions was related to ongoing sleep disturbances, symptoms, and changes in QOL.

Eighty-two student-athletes (club and varsity) completed an online survey to determine concussion history, sleep disturbances, concussion symptoms, and QOL dysfunctions. Separate analyses of variance were performed to determine if sleep disturbances, symptoms, and QOL dysfunctions were related and if they differed based on concussion history (0, 1-2, 3+).

Those with no concussion history reported fewer sleep disturbances (P = .028), symptoms (P = .029), symptom severity (P = .014), QOL dysfunctions (P = .003), and QOL severity (P = .011) than those who self-reported having had a previous concussion(s). Additionally, the number of sleep disturbances was found to positively correlate with symptoms (P < .001), symptom severity (P < .001), QOL dysfunctions (P = .001), and severity of QOL dysfunctions (P = .002).

The results of the current study demonstrate that concussion history is related to persistent changes in sleep, ongoing symptoms, and QOL dysfunctions and should be considered in concussion management protocols even after return to play and academics has occurred.