Search

Participation in outdoor sports increases exposure to ultraviolet radiation, necessitating mitigation through sunscreen use. This prospective study examined the effects of sport, setting (practice vs. competition), gender, age and geographic location on sunscreen use and education among youth athletes in various sports. Six hundred and twelve athletes ≤18 years old completed an online survey on sunscreen education and use during competitions and practices. Regardless of sport, reported sunscreen use was higher during practices than competition ( p  < 0.0001). Sunscreen was used most by swimmers/divers (odds ratio: OR ≥ 1.9, p  < 0.001) and least by American football players (OR ≤ 0.57, p  ≤ 0.001). Coaches mentioned sunscreen use the most in track and field (OR 1.84, p  = 0.001) and the least in American football (OR 0.67, p  = 0.03). Athletes used sunscreen more if they were female (OR ≥ 1.9 1.38, p  ≤ 0.06) and younger (age OR ≤ 0.88, p  < 0.001). In conclusion, youth athletes differ in sunscreen use by sport and setting, highlighting the need for continued photoprotective education.

Objective: To examine patient and injury factors that may predict quality of life (QoL) and symptom duration after concussion., Design: Prospective, longitudinal., Settings: Six children's hospital-based medical centers and 9 secondary school athletic training facilities., Patients: Pediatric patients (8-18 years) were enrolled as part of the Sport Concussion Outcomes in Pediatrics (SCOPE) study during their initial visit for a diagnosis of sport-related concussion., Interventions: Patients completed a medical history, the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Profile-25 (PROMIS-PP)., Main Outcome Measures: Eight predictor variables [age, sex, assessment time, loss of consciousness, amnesia and history of concussion, migraines, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or (ADHD)] were assessed using regression models constructed for each dependent variable., Results: A total of 244 patients (15.1 ± 2.1 years, 41% female) were enrolled (mean = 5 ± 3 days after concussion; range = 1-14 days). Female sex, later initial assessment, and presence of amnesia were associated with lower QoL scores on several domains, whereas loss of consciousness was associated with higher QoL for fatigue. A history of migraines was associated with lower peer relationship QoL. Patients who subsequently developed persisting symptoms had lower mobility scores and higher anxiety, depressive symptom, fatigue, and pain interference scores., Conclusions: Female sex, later clinic presentation, and amnesia were associated with a lower QoL related to mobility, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and pain interference. Interestingly, previous concussion and preinjury ADHD diagnosis did not negatively impact postinjury QoL at the initial visit. Future studies should assess the influence of these factors on QoL at later postinjury time points using a concussion-specific outcomes instrument., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Adolescent athletes undergo preparticipation screening for long QT syndrome. Medications that are associated with QT interval prolongation are increasingly being prescribed to precollege students. The side effect profile of these medications during exercise is unknown. The aims of this study were to (1) measure the prevalence of medications known to be associated with QT interval prolongation taken by adolescents participating in athletics and (2) to determine the association between the use of these medications and QT interval prolongation in adolescents participating in athletics., Methods: Sports preparticipation exams were performed on 484 students at an urban high school. This consisted of a physical examination, 12-Lead electrocardiogram, and health history including current prescription and over-the-counter medications. Electrocardiograms were interpreted by a pediatric cardiologist using Bazett's correction formula. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the cohort. The participants' parents consented to the preparticipation examination before history and physicals., Results: No athletes exhibited a corrected QT interval >500 ms. Borderline long QT was identified in 6.65% of the subjects. In this study, 7.64% of the subjects reported that they were taking medications associated with QT prolongation. After controlling for age and gender, medication usage was not significantly related to the presence a borderline long QT interval., Conclusions: Although adolescent athletes are taking medications associated with QT interval prolongation, their side effect profile during exercise is unknown. Although there was no significant association between medications and borderline long QT, these data were taken from adolescent athletes at rest. The prevalence of adolescents participating in athletics and taking medications associated with QT interval prolongation was significant. There appears to be a very low risk of QT prolongation >500 ms at rest in this cohort., (Copyright © 2015 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)