Triathlons are most risky for men over 40

A report in the British Medical Journal serves as a warning to triathlon competitors.

Apparently, deaths and cardiac arrests during triathlons aren’t that rare, with most occurring during the swimming segment.

The researchers found a total of 107 sudden deaths, 13 cardiac arrests that responded to resuscitation, and 15 trauma related deaths during triathlons in the US between 1985 and 2016.

They found that death or cardiac arrest occurred in about 1.74 of 100,000 triathlon participants — which is higher than for marathon running (one per 100,000).

The risk was three times as high in men as in women (2.4 per 100,000, and 0.74 per 100,000).

In men the risk increased with age and was much greater among those aged 60 years or older (18.6 per 100,000).

The authors said that participants should be aware of the risks and should have adequately trained before taking part.

They also said that middle aged and older men should be screened for any underlying cardiovascular disease before taking part.