The cost of a single concussion in American high school football: a retrospective cohort study
Aaron M. Yengo‐Kahn, Patrick D. Kelly, David C. Liles, Lydia J. McKeithan, Candace J. Grisham, Muhammad Saad Khan, Timothy Lee, Andrew W. Kuhn, Christopher M. Bonfield, Scott L. Zuckerman
Abstract
AIM: The potential financial burden of American football-related concussions (FRC) is unknown. Our objective was to describe the healthcare costs associated with an FRC and determine factors associated with increased costs. METHODOLOGY/RESULTS: A retrospective cohort study of concussed high school football players presenting between November 2017 and March 2020 was undertaken; 144 male high school football players were included. Total costs were about $115,000, for an average direct healthcare cost of $800.10/concussion. Visiting the emergency department (β = 502.29, 95% CI: 105.79-898.61; p = 0.01), the initial post-concussion symptom scale score (β = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.11-0.66; p = 0.01) and a post-concussion syndrome diagnosis (β = 670.37, 95% CI: 98.96-1241.79; p = 0.02) were each independently associated with total costs. CONCLUSION: A granular understanding of cost-driving factors associated with FRC is the first step in understanding the cost-effectiveness of prevention and treatment methods.