Study Examines Sports-Related Sudden Death

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(Ivanhoe Newswire) –Screening programs before participation in sports have been used for many years for young athletes and it has been suggested that screening programs might also be advisable in the general population. In a recent study in France, researchers have added to the debate by describing the incidence of sports-related sudden death by specific sports as well as age and sex.
The study included a population of about 35 million people. Sports-related sudden death was defined as death occurring during or within one hour of cessation of the sports activity. Calculation of sports-related sudden death only included cases during moderate and vigorous activities, and was assessed by sex, age, and three of the most frequent sports among women in France (jogging, cycling, and swimming).
“Compared with men, we found a lower incidence of sports-related sudden death in women and differences by age and sport. Strategies for community screening prior to participation in recreational sports activities should consider both the types of sports to be undertaken and the sex of participants,” Eloi Marijon, M.D., of the Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, and colleagues, were quoted as saying.
For more information, go to: http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/also-appearing-in-this-issue-of-jama-18/
SOURCE: JAMA, August 2013