WHO 委任的特别小组估计全世界发病率为每 100,000 人中有 600 例。[4]Holm L, Cassidy JD, Carroll LJ, et al. Summary of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Neurotrauma Task Force on mild traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Med. 2005;37:137-141.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16040469?tool=bestpractice.com全球每年几乎有三分之二病例为年轻男性。[5]Radanov BP, Dvorak J, Valach L. Cognitive deficits in patients after soft tissue injury of the cervical spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1992;17:127-131.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1553581?tool=bestpractice.com[6]McCrea MA. Mild traumatic brain injury and postconcussion syndrome: the new evidence base for diagnosis and treatment. Oxford Workshop Series. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2008.女性所报告的症状通常更复杂,且无论是运动相关和非运动相关的脑震荡,女性的恢复更慢。[7]Farace E, Alves WM. Do women fare worse? A metaanalysis of gender differences in outcome after traumatic brain injury. Neurosurg Focus. 2000;8:6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16924776?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Colvin AC, Mullen J, Lovell MR, et al. The role of concussion history and gender in recovery from soccer-related concussion. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37:1699-1704.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19460813?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Bazarian JJ, Blyth B, Mookerjee S, et al. Sex differences in outcome after mild traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma. 2010;27:527-539.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2867588/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19938945?tool=bestpractice.com尽管男性在脑震荡中比例更高,但在规则相似的运动(曲棍球、棒球、足球、长曲棍球)中,人均损伤发生率(每 100 名运动员的受伤率)却低于女运动员。[10]Hootman JM, Dick R, Agel J. Epidemiology of collegiate injuries for 15 sports: summary and recommendations for injury prevention initiatives. J Athl Train. 2007;42:311-319.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1941297/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17710181?tool=bestpractice.com
尽管防护意识增强,并变更了规则和设备,但脑震荡依然是美式橄榄球中的一个问题。橄榄球相关的脑震荡年发生率(包括娱乐性、中学、大学及职业水平)表明,橄榄球运动员的脑震荡年发病率估计为 4%~20%,[11]Bailes JE, Cantu RC. Head injury in athletes. Neurosurgery. 2001;48:26-45; discussion 45-46.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11152359?tool=bestpractice.com且在同一赛季中,他们再次发生脑震荡的可能性要高三倍。[12]Guskiewicz KM, Weaver NL, Padua DA, et al. Epidemiology of concussion in collegiate and high school football players. Am J Sports Med. 2000;28:643-650.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11032218?tool=bestpractice.com一项研究发现,70.4% 的橄榄球运动员和 62.7% 的足球运动员报告在上一年经历了脑震荡症状,但仅 23.4% 有脑震荡症状的橄榄球运动员意识到其患有脑震荡。[13]Delaney JS, Lacroix VJ, Leclerc S, et al. Concussions among university football and soccer players. Clin J Sport Med. 2002;12:331-338.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12466687?tool=bestpractice.com