Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Test Positivity in NCAA Division I Student Athletes vs Nonathletes at 12 Institutions.
JAMA Netw Open
; 5(2): e2147805, 2022 02 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1680204
ABSTRACT
Importance The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to the abrupt shutdown of collegiate athletics until guidelines were established for a safe return to play for student athletes. Currently, no literature exists that examines the difference in SARS-CoV-2 test positivity between student athletes and nonathletes at universities across the country. Objective:
To identify the difference in risk of COVID-19 infection between student athlete and nonathlete student populations and evaluate the hypothesis that student athletes may display increased SARS-CoV-2 test positivity associated with increased travel, competition, and testing compared with nonathletes at their respective universities. Design, Setting, andParticipants:
In this cross-sectional analysis, a search of publicly available official university COVID-19 dashboards and press releases was performed for all 65 Power 5 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I institutions during the 2020 to 2021 academic year. Data were analyzed at the conclusion of the academic year. Schools that released at least 4 months of testing data, including the fall 2020 football season, for student athletes and nonathlete students were included in the analysis. Power 5 NCAA Division I student athletes and their nonathlete student counterparts were included in the analysis. Exposure Designation as a varsity student athlete. Main Outcomes andMeasures:
The main outcome was SARS-CoV-2 test positivity for student athletes and nonathlete students at the included institutions for the 2020 to 2021 academic year, measured as a relative risk for student athletes.Results:
Among 12 schools with sufficient data available included in the final analysis, 555â¯372 student athlete tests and 3â¯482â¯845 nonathlete student tests were performed. There were 9 schools with decreased test positivity in student athletes compared with nonathlete students (University of Arkansas 0.01% vs 3.52%; University of Minnesota 0.63% vs 5.96%; Penn State University 0.74% vs 6.58%; Clemson University 0.40% vs 1.88%; University of Louisville 0.75% vs 3.05%; Purdue University 0.79% vs 2.97%; University of Michigan 0.40% vs 1.12%; University of Illinois 0.17% vs 0.40%; University of Virginia 0.64% vs 1.04%) (P < .001 for each). The median (range) test positivity in these 9 schools was 0.46% (0.01%-0.79%) for student athletes and 1.04% (0.40%-6.58%) for nonathlete students. In 1 school, test positivity was increased in the student athlete group (Stanford University 0.20% vs 0.05%; P < .001). Overall, there were 2425 positive tests (0.44%) among student athletes and 30â¯567 positive tests (0.88%) among nonathlete students, for a relative risk of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.48-0.52; P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in student athlete test positivity between included schools; however, test positivity among nonathlete students varied considerably between institutions, ranging from 133 of 271â¯862 tests (0.05%) at Stanford University to 2129 of 32â¯336 tests (6.58%) at Penn State University. Conclusions and Relevance This study found that in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 transmission mitigation protocols implemented by the NCAA, participation in intercollegiate athletics was not associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 test positivity. This finding suggests that collegiate athletics may be held without an associated increased risk of infection among student athletes.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sports
/
Students
/
Athletes
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
JAMA Netw Open
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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