Novel Mobile Device-Based Tool to Document Sideline Evaluation of Athletes.

We describe the implementation of the Athletic Injury Database (AID), a mobile device-based tool for documenting sideline encounters with athletes. Primary measures of the implementation process were: 1) patterns of AID use, 2) nature of sideline encounters captured, and 3) providers' reported satisfaction. Over 2 yr, the AID captured 6237 sideline encounters by athletic trainers and physicians. Most encounters were among athletes participating in football (51%), soccer (15%), and basketball (12%). Knee and ankle injuries were most common. A total of 77% of sports medicine providers were satisfied with the AID. Providers can use information gleaned from a tool like the AID to improve documentation of care provided to athletes.

Parental Knowledge of Cardiovascular Screening and Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Youth Athletes.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in youth athletes. Survival from out- of-hospital SCA depends on prompt initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). This study evaluated parental knowledge, experience, and attitudes related to cardiovascular screening, SCA, and CPR/AED use in youth athletes and made comparisons between parents who are employed in healthcare and parents who are not employed in healthcare. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate knowledge, experiences, and attitudes of 91 parents of youth athletes who attended a community-based cardiovascular screening event. Although cardiovascular screening can reduce the risk of SCA, we found that 36% of parents incorrectly thought cardiovascular screening could prevent SCA and there was no difference in knowledge between the two groups of parents. This initial evaluation of parental knowledge of cardiovascular screening issues in youth athletes should guide educational efforts to prevent and respond to SCA in youth athletes.

Low proportion of high school senior athletes receiving recommended immunizations.

BACKGROUND: The preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE) often serves as the only preventive health care visit for athletes, but immunization status is not uniformly addressed in such visits. Thus, athletes may not be receiving recommended immunizations. Our aim was to determine the proportion of high school senior athletes who received all recommended immunizations. HYPOTHESIS: Our hypothesis was that females would be less likely than males to receive all recommended immunizations given suboptimal human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey evaluation of the immunization status of high school senior athletes in Davidson County, TN. The primary composite outcome was receipt of recommended immunizations for tetanus, meningococcal, and seasonal influenza. For females, the primary outcome also included completion of the HPV series. RESULTS: A total of 162 participants, 104 males and 58 females, were included. More males than females received all recommended immunizations (15.4% vs 3.5%; P = 0.02). When HPV immunization was excluded from the composite outcome, there was no difference in the proportion of males and females who received all recommended immunizations (15.4% vs 15.5%; P = 0.98). The odds of receiving all recommended immunizations was 0.14 (95% CI, 0.03-0.72) for females compared with males when adjusted for covariates. Athletes seen at retail-based clinics for their PPE were less likely to receive all recommended immunizations compared with athletes seen in primary care (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 in 6 high school senior athletes received the recommended tetanus, meningococcal, and influenza immunizations. A lower proportion of females, only 1 in 28, received all recommended immunizations due to the HPV series. Policy changes requiring a review of immunizations at the PPE would benefit many high school athletes.

High prevalence of hypertension among collegiate football athletes.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension among collegiate football athletes is not well described. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective cohort of all male athletes who participated in varsity athletics at a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I university between 1999 and 2012 was examined through chart review. Mandatory annual preparticipation physical examinations included blood pressure, body mass index, medication use, and supplement use. Prevalence of hypertension was compared between football and nonfootball athletes. A mixed-effects linear regression model examined change in blood pressure over time. Six hundred thirty-six collegiate athletes, including 323 football players, were identified. In the initial year of athletic participation, 19.2% of football athletes had hypertension and 61.9% had prehypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among football athletes than in nonfootball athletes in their initial (19.2% versus 7.0%; P<0.001) and final (19.2% versus 10.2%; P=0.001) years of athletic participation. In adjusted analyses, the odds of hypertension were higher among football athletes in the initial year (adjusted odds ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-4.30) but not in the final year (adjusted odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-2.28). Over the course of their collegiate career, football athletes had an annual decrease in systolic blood pressure (-0.82 mm Hg; P=0.002), whereas nonfootball athletes did not (0.18 mm Hg; P=0.58). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension and prehypertension were common among collegiate football athletes, and football athletes were more likely to have hypertension compared with male nonfootball athletes. This presents a potential cardiovascular risk in a young population of athletes. Strategies for increasing awareness, prevention, and treatment are needed.