Acute cardiac care & resuscitationCohort study
Cardiac Arrest During Long-Distance Running Races
- Observational case series
- registry-based
- comparison with historical reference (2000-2009)
Authors' conclusion
Despite increased participation in US long distance running races, cardiac arrest incidence remains stable. There has been a marked decline in cardiac arrest mortality, and coronary artery disease was the most common etiology among cases with sufficient cause-related data.
Study context
- Population
- US marathon and half-marathon race finishers176 cardiac arrests
- Participants
- 29,311,597 participants
- Exposure
- 2010-2023 vs 2000-2009
- 2010-2023n = 29,311,597
- Outcome
- Incidence proportions of sudden cardiac arrest and death
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cardiac arrests among 29 311 597 race finishers
176
Cardiac arrest incidence unchanged vs 2000-2009
0.54 per 100 000 participants [95% CI, 0.41-0.70] vs 0.60 per 100 000 [95% CI, 0.52-0.70]
Significant decline in cardiac death incidence vs 2000-2009
0.20 per 100 000 [95% CI, 0.15-0.26] vs 0.39 per 100 000 [95% CI, 0.28-0.52]
Significant decline in case fatality rate vs 2000-2009
34% vs 71%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Cardiac arrest incidence by sex | Men 1.12 per 100 000 (95% CI 0.95–1.32) · Women 0.19 per 100 000 (95% CI 0.13–0.27) |
| Cardiac arrest incidence by race distance | Marathon 1.04 per 100 000 (95% CI 0.82–1.32) · Half-marathon 0.47 per 100 000 (95% CI 0.38–0.57) |
- Cardiac arrest incidence by sex: 30 sex unknown
Etiology (definitive cause determined in 67/128 [52%])
- CAD rather than hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the most common etiology
Factors associated with survival
- Decreased cardiopulmonary resuscitation time and initial ventricular tachyarrhythmia rhythm associated with survival
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it