TY - JOUR
T1 - Should We Lose Sleep over Sleep Disturbances after Sports-Related Concussion? A Scoping Review of the Literature
AU - Stevens, David J.
AU - Alghwiri, Alia
AU - Appleton, Sarah L.
AU - Rogers, Jeffrey M.
AU - Plummer, Stephanie L.
AU - Grant, Catharina
AU - Bickley, Kelsey
AU - Alvaro, Pasquale K.
AU - Kennett, Stephen
AU - Adams, Robert
AU - Holtzhausen, Louis
PY - 2022/5/1
Y1 - 2022/5/1
N2 - Objective: A single, severe traumatic brain injury can result in chronic sleep disturbances that can persist several years after the incident. In contrast, it is unclear whether there are sleep disturbances after a sports-related concussion (SRC). Considering growing evidence of links between sleep disturbance and neurodegeneration, this review examined the potential links between diagnosed SRCs and sleep disturbances to provide guidance for future studies. Methods: The scoping review undertook a systematic search of key online databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, SportDiscus, and Web of Science) using predetermined search terms for any articles that examined sleep after concussion. A screening criterion using agreed inclusion and exclusion criteria was utilized to ensure inclusion of relevant articles. Design: This scoping review is guided by the PRSIMA Scoping Review report. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 896 adults who had experienced an SRC. Comparison with 1327 non-SRC adults occurred in 8 studies. Nine studies subjectively examined sleep, of which all but one study reported sleep disturbances after an SRC. Three studies objectively measured sleep, with 2 studies indicating large coefficients of variation of sleep duration, suggesting a range of sleep responses after an SRC. The only study to examine overnight polysomnography showed no differences in sleep metrics between those with and without an SRC. No studies examined interventions to improve sleep outcomes in people with concussion. Conclusions: This scoping review indicates preliminary evidence of sleep disturbances following an SRC. The heterogeneity of methodology used in the included studies makes consensus on the results difficult. Given the mediating role of sleep in neurodegenerative disorders, further research is needed to identify physiological correlates and pathological mechanisms of sleep disturbances in SRC-related neurodegeneration and whether interventions for sleep problems improve recovery from concussion and reduce the risk of SRC-related neurodegeneration.
AB - Objective: A single, severe traumatic brain injury can result in chronic sleep disturbances that can persist several years after the incident. In contrast, it is unclear whether there are sleep disturbances after a sports-related concussion (SRC). Considering growing evidence of links between sleep disturbance and neurodegeneration, this review examined the potential links between diagnosed SRCs and sleep disturbances to provide guidance for future studies. Methods: The scoping review undertook a systematic search of key online databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, SportDiscus, and Web of Science) using predetermined search terms for any articles that examined sleep after concussion. A screening criterion using agreed inclusion and exclusion criteria was utilized to ensure inclusion of relevant articles. Design: This scoping review is guided by the PRSIMA Scoping Review report. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 896 adults who had experienced an SRC. Comparison with 1327 non-SRC adults occurred in 8 studies. Nine studies subjectively examined sleep, of which all but one study reported sleep disturbances after an SRC. Three studies objectively measured sleep, with 2 studies indicating large coefficients of variation of sleep duration, suggesting a range of sleep responses after an SRC. The only study to examine overnight polysomnography showed no differences in sleep metrics between those with and without an SRC. No studies examined interventions to improve sleep outcomes in people with concussion. Conclusions: This scoping review indicates preliminary evidence of sleep disturbances following an SRC. The heterogeneity of methodology used in the included studies makes consensus on the results difficult. Given the mediating role of sleep in neurodegenerative disorders, further research is needed to identify physiological correlates and pathological mechanisms of sleep disturbances in SRC-related neurodegeneration and whether interventions for sleep problems improve recovery from concussion and reduce the risk of SRC-related neurodegeneration.
KW - athletic injuries
KW - brain concussion
KW - chronic traumatic encephalopathy
KW - craniocerebral trauma
KW - sleep
KW - sleep-wake disorders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110739661&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000701
DO - 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000701
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34145161
AN - SCOPUS:85110739661
SN - 0885-9701
VL - 37
SP - E206-E219
JO - JOURNAL OF HEAD TRAUMA REHABILITATION
JF - JOURNAL OF HEAD TRAUMA REHABILITATION
IS - 3
ER -