Increasing Incidence of Concussion: True Epidemic or Better Recognition?

Objectives: To provide updated estimates of the incidence of concussion from all causes diagnosed by all physicians in a large jurisdiction, as previous studies have examined only single causes of injury or from smaller specific populations. Design: Physician Billing and National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) databases were used to identify all Ontario residents with a diagnosis of concussion (ICD-9 850.0 and ICD-10 S06.0) made by physicians between 2008 and 2016, excluding those with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Results: In total, 1 330 336 people were diagnosed with a concussion between 2008 and 2016. The annual average was 147 815, and 79% were diagnosed in the emergency department. The average annual incidence was 1153 per 100 000 residents. Incidence varied by age, sex, and geography; children younger than 5 years had the highest incidence of concussion, more than 3600 per 100 000 individuals of that age group. Males had higher incidence than females except in older than 65 years age groups. There was a Pearson correlation (+0.669) between sustaining a concussion and living in rural locations. Conclusion: The annual incidence of approximately 1.2% of the population is the highest rate of concussion ever reported thorough sampling methods and may represent a closer estimate of the true picture of concussion. Findings may inform future concussion treatment and healthcare planning.