Initial symptom presentation after high school football-related concussion varies by time point in a season: an initial investigation

Sports Medicine - Open

Table 2 Comparison of post-injury outcome measures among athletes who sustained an early, mid, and late season concussion

Post-concussion outcome: mean (SD)	Early season (n = 418)	Midseason (n = 2078)	Late season (n = 98)	F	p value	η _p ^2c
Verbal memory^a	83.13 (12.99)	83.35 (13.22)	81.76 (14.98)	1.55	0.21	–
Visual memory^a	73.27 (12.96)	74.60 (14.63)	69.65 (15.18)	2.68	0.07	–
Visual motor speed^a	35.86 (6.99)	36.21 (7.60)	35.51 (6.80)	0.55	0.58	–
Reaction time^a	0.63 (0.12)	0.63 (0.12)	0.65 (0.13)	2.00	0.14	–
Total symptom score^a	6.77 (9.99)	9.31 (14.85)	13.10 (16.80)	15.40	< 0.001	0.01
Number of symptoms increased^b	2.68 (3.59)	3.61 (4.73)	5.70 (5.84)	16.40	< 0.001	0.01

Italics indicates significant p value based on Bonferroni-corrected alpha levels = 0.008
^aEach comparison of outcome was controlled for age and respective baseline score in ANCOVA modeling; number of symptoms increased was from baseline report and therefore baseline number of symptoms was not included as a covariate
^bIncrease in number and severity of symptoms based on a previously validated cutoff score (2+ symptoms, increased 1+ point) to classify athletes as meaningfully changed from baseline [45]
^cPartial η² interpretation for effect size; small = 0.01, medium = 0.06, large = 0.14