Sports medicine stats: Sudden cardiac death in marathon runners
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
The major causes of nonfatal and fatal cardiac arrests in marathons are related to coronary artery disease. The incidence of SCD in women is lower than it is in men. Only 15% of reported SCDs occurred in women across all marathon studies. More than half the victims had completed at least 1 previous marathon, indicating that events occur in experienced runners. Few had reported symptoms before the race. Cardiac arrests appear to cluster in the latter stages of the race, with the highest numbers in the final mile or at the finish line.
-Source: Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, July/August 2010
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
The major causes of nonfatal and fatal cardiac arrests in marathons are related to coronary artery disease. The incidence of SCD in women is lower than it is in men. Only 15% of reported SCDs occurred in women across all marathon studies. More than half the victims had completed at least 1 previous marathon, indicating that events occur in experienced runners. Few had reported symptoms before the race. Cardiac arrests appear to cluster in the latter stages of the race, with the highest numbers in the final mile or at the finish line.