Tracking of concussions

Tracking of concussions

Number of cases of concussions in Canada

According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, concussions accounted for 3.3% of injuries in 2014, ages 12 and up. This was a significant increase from 1.9% reported in 2009.

The most frequent causes of concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries in children and youth

Data from the Electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program provides injury-related information. It showed that brain injuries, including concussions, made up 80% of emergency department visits for sports and recreation-related head injuries for 5- to 19-year-olds.

Table 1 shows the breakdown of hospital visits for concussions by sex and sport.

Table 1

Age (years)

Sex

Sport

Percentage of visits for brain injuries compared to all injuries

5-9

male

ice hockey

43.4

male

gym class

30.6

female

ice hockey

30.9

female

sledding/tobogganing

24.9

10-14

male

ice hockey

28.7

male

rugby

28.5

female

ringette

38.2

female

ice hockey

31.9

15-19

male

rugby

27.0

male

ice hockey

20.7

female

ringette

44.3

female

ice hockey

37.1

Emergency department surveillance on the causes of sport and recreation-related concussions and other brain injuries shows that:

  • among 5- to 9-year-olds, ice-hockey is the most common cause for both boys and girls
  • among 10-14 and 15-19-year-olds:
    • ice hockey and rugby are the most common causes for boys
    • ringette and ice hockey are the most common causes for girls

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