Participatory disease surveillance for a mass gathering - a prospective cohort study on COVID-19, Germany 2021.

BACKGROUND: Mass gatherings (MGs) such as music festivals and sports events have been associated with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. On-site research can foster knowledge of risk factors for infections and improve risk assessments and precautionary measures at future MGs. We tested a web-based participatory disease surveillance tool to detect COVID-19 infections at and after an outdoor MG by collecting self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and tests. METHODS: We conducted a digital prospective observational cohort study among fully immunized attendees of a sports festival that took place from September 2 to 5, 2021 in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Participants used our study app to report demographic data, COVID-19 tests, symptoms, and their contact behavior. This self-reported data was used to define probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases for the full "study period" (08/12/2021 - 10/31/2021) and within the 14-day "surveillance period" during and after the MG, with the highest likelihood of an MG-related COVID-19 outbreak (09/04/2021 - 09/17/2021). RESULTS: A total of 2,808 of 9,242 (30.4%) event attendees participated in the study. Within the study period, 776 individual symptoms and 5,255 COVID-19 tests were reported. During the 14-day surveillance period around and after the MG, seven probable and seven PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases were detected. The confirmed cases translated to an estimated seven-day incidence of 125 per 100,000 participants (95% CI [67.7/100,000, 223/100,000]), which was comparable to the average age-matched incidence in Germany during this time. Overall, weekly numbers of COVID-19 cases were fluctuating over the study period, with another increase at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 cases attributable to the mass gathering were comparable to the Germany-wide age-matched incidence, implicating that our active participatory disease surveillance tool was able to detect MG-related infections. Further studies are needed to evaluate and apply our participatory disease surveillance tool in other mass gathering settings.

Injury Profile and Sex-Specific Differences in Bubble-Soccer - A First Scientific Survey of a Dangerous New Sports Trend.

PURPOSE: Small-field soccer is a popular type of amateur sports worldwide. One type of small-field soccer growing in popularity is bubble-soccer, but injury risks and injury patterns are still unclear. This study investigates the factors influencing injuries in bubble-soccer for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study of an outdoor tournament investigated the injury incidence and injury patterns as well as the factors influencing injuries in bubble-soccer matches. Data were collected according to the statement on data collection and injury definition. Preparation and physical outcome were assessed for both sexes. RESULTS: Of 145 players (104 men, 41 women), 58 players sustained 94 injuries during the tournament and 64% of injuries affected the lower extremities. The most common traumatic injuries were skin lesions (37.5%), acute pain (15.6%) and contusion (7.8%). More female players (3818.2/1000 h bubble-soccer) than male players (1474.4) were affected by injury, mostly to the knees or the head. Also, women significantly more often reported neck pain than men (p<0.042); 29.0% of players felt uncomfortable wearing the bubble, and 21.4% reported neurological symptoms such as headache or dizziness after the match. CONCLUSION: Bubble-soccer shows a relatively high injury incidence. Women had a higher injury incidence and were more often affected by traumatic injuries to the head and neck including feeling of discomfort and headache or neck pain after the match. Adequate preparation seems to be essential for injury prevention, and players should recognise the high injury risk of bubble-soccer.

Influence of poor preparation and sleep deficit on injury incidence in amateur small field football of both gender.

INTRODUCTION: Amateur small-field football tournaments are rather common worldwide. Adequate preparation is essential for injury prevention. The consequences of insufficient injury preparation at this level are still unclear. This study investigates the factors influencing injuries in this football population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2017, medical students participating in a national amateur football tournament were analysed in a prospective cohort study. Injury incidence, injury pattern and factors influencing injuries were investigated according to the statement on data collection and injury definition of Fuller et al. (Br J Sports Med 40:193-201, 2006). Preparation for the tournament was assessed for both sexes by means of hours of sleep, alcohol consumption, training level and warm-up performance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II. RESULTS: Of 694 amateur football players (423 men and 271 women) with a mean age of 23 years (SD 2.5), 321 (21.1%) injuries happened during the tournament. 60% of injuries affected the lower extremity. The most common types of traumatic injury were skin abrasions (40.0%) and muscle strains (23.3%). The injury incidence of male players during match exposure was 469 per 1000 h football and significantly higher than in female players 313 (p = 0.025). One potential reason for the higher injury rate of male players as measure for inadequate preparation was significantly higher alcohol consumption the evening before the tournament (p < 0.001) and the after-effects on match day (p < 0.001). Additionally, male players reported less and inadequate sleep the night before the tournament (p < 0.007) and a lower warm-up rate before the matches compared to female players (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Small-field tournaments in football have a high injury incidence. Male players have a higher injury incidence than female players and show additionally a lack of sleep and alcohol consumption the night before the tournament and poor warm-up performance on match day. Adequate preparation for a football tournament is the key factor for preventing injuries, also in recreational football.