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Concussions Are Associated With Increases in Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk in American-Style Football
Austin J Rim1, Chang Liu2, Mekensie Jackson1
1Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
JACC. Advances
|April 26, 2025
Summary
American-style football concussions are linked to increased cardiovascular risk. This study found concussions in collegiate athletes are associated with higher blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular changes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Concussions are frequent in American-style football (ASF).
- The link between concussions and cardiovascular risk remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if collegiate ASF concussions increase systolic blood pressure (SBP).
- To determine if concussions lead to maladaptive cardiovascular changes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal case-controlled study of ASF athletes.
- Cardiovascular assessments included blood pressure, echocardiography, and vascular tonometry.
- Concussed athletes were compared to matched controls without concussions.
Main Results:
- Concussions were associated with increased pulse wave velocity (PWV) after one season.
- Over two seasons, concussed athletes showed higher SBP, diastolic blood pressure, and LV mass index.
- Concussions were linked to elevated PWV, diastolic blood pressure, and LV mass index, and decreased É.
Conclusions:
- Collegiate ASF concussions are independently linked to cardiovascular risk markers.
- Concussions contribute to maladaptive cardiovascular phenotypes.
- Concussion management should include blood pressure surveillance for early hypertension detection.
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