Triathlon deaths not rare, and risks rise with age
Triathlon competitors may be more likely to die suddenly and suffer a fatal trauma or cardiac arrest than previously thought, US data suggest. A study of more than 9 million participants over three decades found that deaths and cardiac arrests struck 1.74 out of every 100,000 competitors. The risk associated with a single triathlon was higher than the annual risk of death for a middle-aged adult in the general population, and also exceeds previous estimates for long-distance running races, including marathons, researchers report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
“The majority of deaths occur in the swim portion of the triathlon, which is the first portion of the race,” said lead study author Dr Kevin Harris, a cardiologist at Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott-Northwestern hospital in Minnesota. “During this portion of the race, the athletes likely experience an adrenaline surge as they enter the water and are competing in close proximity to other athletes, and in some cases with environmental conditions that are difficult to prepare for,” Harris said by email. “We don’t understand the exact cause of death in each athlete, and some swim deaths may be related to drowning.”
Since its origin in the 1970s, the triathlon has become an increasingly popular endurance activity worldwide. A standard Olympic triathlon involves a 1.5 kilometer (0.9 mile) swim, followed by a 40 kilometer (24.8 mile) bike ride and a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) run. For the study, researchers examined data on triathlon participants from 1985 to 2016. During the study period, 135 people died suddenly or had a cardiac arrest. This included 107 sudden deaths as well as 13 race-related cardiac arrests that people survived because of prompt emergency medical attention.
The victims were 47 years old on average, and 85 percent were male. Overall, 90 deaths and cardiac arrests occurred during the swimming portion of races, while 7 happened during cycling, 15 occurred while running and 9 happened during the recovery period right after the race. During the cycling segment, there were also 15 trauma-related deaths involving crashes or other accidents. Autopsy data showed that clinically silent cardiovascular disease was present in an unexpected proportion of decedents, suggesting a need for participants to know their risk before racing.
Health checks
The incidence of cardiovascular events was strikingly lower in female triathletes, 3.5-fold less than in men. Death risks also increased with age. Among men 60 and older, 19 participants died or suffered cardiac arrest out of every 100,000 competitors. One limitation of the study is that researchers used race finishers in their estimates, which might underestimate the risks associated with triathlons, the authors note. Even so, the results should serve as a reminder to participants to make sure they are medically fit to compete in these endurance races, said Dr. Reginald Ho, author of an accompanying editorial and a professor of medicine at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
“They should see their physician regularly for health checks that include a complete history and physical examination,” Ho said by email. “Any heartrelated symptoms (chest tightness, heaviness or discomfort, shortness of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness, passing out episodes) should be reported to their doctor.” — Reuters