Team illness prevention strategy (TIPS) is associated with a 59% reduction in acute illness during the Super Rugby tournament: a control–intervention study over 7 seasons involving 126 850 player days

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine 2020-02, Vol.54 (4), p.245-249
• Main Authors: Schwellnus, Martin, Janse van Rensburg, Charl, Bayne, Helen, Derman, Wayne, Readhead, Clint, Collins, Rob, Kourie, Alan, Suter, Jason, Strauss, Org, Sewry, Nicola, Jordaan, Esme
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease - epidemiology; Anniversaries and Special Events; Athletes; Competitive Behavior; Cost of Illness; Data collection; Estimates; Football; Humans; illness; Incidence; Male; Original research; Paralympic Games; Physicians; Prevention; Primary Prevention - organization & administration; Respiratory system; Rugby; South Africa - epidemiology; Sports injuries; Studies; Tournaments & championships
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100775

ObjectivesTo determine whether a team illness prevention strategy (TIPS) would reduce the incidence of acute illness during the Super Rugby tournament.MethodsWe studied 1340 male professional rugby union player seasons from six South African teams that participated in the Super Rugby tournament (2010–2016). Medical staff recorded all illnesses daily (126 850 player days) in a 3-year control (C: 2010–2012; 47 553 player days) and a 4-year intervention (I: 2013–2016; 79 297 player days) period. A five-element TIPS was implemented in the I period, following agreement by consensus. Incidence rate (IR: per 1000 player days; 95% CI) of all acute illnesses, illness by main organ system, infectious illness and illness burden (days lost due to illness per 1000 player days) were compared between C and I period.ResultsThe IR of acute illness was significantly lower in the I (5.5: 4.7 to 6.4) versus the C period (13.2: 9.7 to 18.0) (p