0940 Pre- and Post-Injury Sleep Quality and Sleep Propensity Predicts Resilience and Symptom Recovery in High-Performing Athletes with Concussion.

Abstract

Introduction: Disrupted sleep and sleep propensity are common sequelae of concussion in high-performing athletes. Although the summative effect of head injuries is widely accepted, the role of sleep quality and sleepiness in resilience and recovery is still poorly understood. This study quantified pre- and post-injury sleep quality and sleep propensity in high-performing athletes with concussion. Method(s): Forty-six athletes (20.8 y/o +/- 3.60; 48% male) with concussion (n=27) and healthy, matched controls (n=19) completed self-report surveys on sleep quality, sleep propensity, and concussive symptoms before and immediately following an in-season concussion, and again at three follow up time points. Summary scores from The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the British Columbia Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (BC-PSI) were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVAS, and regression models. Result(s): We predict that during the off-season, those who did not go on to sustain a concussion would have both better sleep quality and lower sleep propensity than those who did go on to sustain a subsequent in-season concussion. In athletes who sustained an in-season concussion, we predict that sleep quality will be lower and propensity for sleep will be higher immediately following injury when compared to pre-injury data. Further, we expect sleep quality to decline and sleep propensity to increase gradually over the 6-month recovery tracking period. Finally, it is predicted that pre- and immediately post-injury sleep quality and sleep propensity will both individually and synergistically predicted concussion symptom recovery at 3-6 months. Conclusion(s): Given the hypotheses are supported by the evidence, this study will demonstrate sleep quality and sleep propensity as targets for resilience and improving symptom recovery in high-performing athletes with concussion. Future research will examine the contribution of objective sleep/wake patterns and neurological factors in concussion resilience and recovery.