Epidemiology of Emergency Medical Services Activations for Sport-Related Injuries in the United States

Rebecca M Hirschhorn; Zachary Y Kerr; James M Mensch; Robert A Huggins; Thomas P Dompier; Caroline Rudisill; Susan W Yeargin

doi:10.7759/cureus.27403

Epidemiology of Emergency Medical Services Activations for Sport-Related Injuries in the United States

Cureus. 2022 Jul 28;14(7):e27403. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27403. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Rebecca M Hirschhorn¹, Zachary Y Kerr², James M Mensch³, Robert A Huggins⁴, Thomas P Dompier⁵, Caroline Rudisill⁶, Susan W Yeargin³

Affiliations

¹ School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
² Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
³ Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health - University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA.
⁵ School of Health Professions, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, USA.
⁶ Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health - University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.

Abstract

Background Literature examining emergency medical services (EMS) activations for sport-related injuries is limited to the pediatric, high school, and collegiate student-athlete populations, excluding older individuals and recreational athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine EMS activations for sport-related injuries using the National EMS Information System Database from 2017-2018. Methods Data were obtained using the National EMS Information System Database from 2017-2018. EMS activations were limited to 9-1-1 responses for individuals aged 3-99 who sustained a sports-related injury. Independent variables included patient age group: pediatric (<18 years old) vs. adult (≥18 years old). Dependent variables were patient age, gender, and chief complaint anatomic location. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for each variable. Injury proportion ratios (IPRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare chief complaint anatomic location by age group. Results There were 71,322 sport-related injuries. Patients were 36.6±22.9 years and most (58.1%, n=41,132) were male. Adults had higher proportions of injuries affecting the abdomen (IPR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.83, 2.31), chest (IPR: 1.90, 95%CI: 1.75, 2.05), general/global (IPR: 1.54, 95%CI: 1.50, 1.58), and genitalia (IPR: 2.40, 95%CI: 1.39, 4.15), and lower proportions of injuries affecting the back (IPR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.50, 0.60), lower extremity (IPR: 0.63, 95%CI: 0.60, 0.65), upper extremity (IPR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.47, 0.53), head (IPR: 0.73, 95%CI: 0.70, 0.77), and neck (IPR: 0.18, 95%CI: 0.16, 0.20) compared to pediatric patients. Conclusion Injuries sustained differed between adult and pediatric patients, indicating sport-related emergencies may change across the lifespan. General/global chief complaints likely indicate sport-related injuries affecting multiple anatomic locations and organ systems. Stakeholders planning large or high-risk athletic events should consider arranging standby or dedicated advanced life support units for their events.

Keywords: ambulances; athletes; emergency service; hospital; sports.

Grants and funding

This study was fully funded by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Research and Education Foundation under Doctoral Grant #1819DGP01