Factors Affecting the Health-Related Quality of Life in Taiwanese Adolescent Baseball Players: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Background: Adolescent baseball players often experience throwing arm complaints from the repetitive activity of baseball, which can affect performance and overall well-being. More focus is needed on their psychological and social challenges in order to achieve better treatment outcomes.

Purpose: To investigate changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adolescent baseball players in Taiwan and identify the factors that influence HRQOL.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: Taiwanese adolescent baseball players (12-18 years old) of all positions from junior and senior high schools were surveyed every 3 months for 1 year (starting in August 2022). Data on demographic characteristics, training volume, throwing arm injury history, and Functional Arm Scale for Throwers (FAST) scores (1 measurement of HRQOL for baseball players) were collected and analyzed using mixed-effects regression models.

Results: The study included 299 adolescent baseball players (mean age, 14 years; range, 12-18 years). Pitchers and outfielders exhibited higher FAST total scores than infielders and catchers (mean ± SE, 14.74 ± 16.60 and 14.24 ± 18.76 vs 8.92 ± 9.77 and 9.52 ± 9.56, respectively; P = .027), which indicated more physical disability and psychological impact. In the mixed-effects regression model for FAST total scores, injury history (estimate for mild injury, 7.18 ± 1.25; moderate injury, 18.28 ± 3.00; severe injury, 22.94 ± 3.76 vs healthy), player position (pitcher 4.20 ± 1.97 vs infielder), and months of follow-up (estimate for 3 months, -4.86 ± 1.33; 6 months, -4.55 ± 1.48; 9 months, -4.27 ± 1.85; 12 months -5.84 ± 2.28 vs 0 months). Training volume did not significantly affect HRQOL scores (P = .629).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated significant differences in most FAST total and subscale scores among player positions. Pitchers and outfielders exhibited higher FAST scores than the other positions, indicating more physical disability and psychological impact. Furthermore, the severity of throwing arm injury history significantly influenced FAST scores, with more severe injuries correlating with poorer outcomes. However, training volume did not significantly impact FAST scores. These data may help in future studies integrating patient-reported outcomes and HRQOL to evaluate athlete's' well-being beyond just physical parameters.