Cocaine history and impulsiveness in professional boxers and mixed martial arts fighters.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Impulsiveness is linked to cocaine history (CH) in the general population and greater fight exposure in professional fighters. Among fighters, no previous studies have quantified CH or investigated its relationship with impulsiveness.

METHODS

Adjusted multivariable regressions were utilized to examine the relationship between CH and impulsiveness in 335 fighters from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study.

RESULTS

Twenty percent of fighters reported CH. CH was significantly associated with impulsiveness overall and on three subscales.

DISCUSSION/

CONCLUSION

Cocaine's prevalence and significant association with impulsiveness in fighters merit further study.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: We quantify CH and demonstrate its significant association with impulsiveness in professional fighters for the first time.