A high incidence of serious life-threatening cardiovascular medical encounters during a marathon (2014-2019) calls for prevention strategies: SAFER XL.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and nature (severity and type by organ system and specific diagnosis) of all medical encounters (MEs), including serious/life-threatening MEs (SLMEs) during a South African road marathon.

METHODS

This descriptive study was a retrospective analysis of data collected over 6 years at the Cape Town Marathon from 2014 to 2019, which included 40 446 starters. All MEs were collected and described as per the consensus statement for mass community-based sporting events. Incidences (I; per 1000 starters; 95% CI) are described for all MEs, SLMEs, and by organ system and specific diagnosis.

RESULTS

The incidence of all MEs was 8.7 (95% CI: 7.8-9.6) per 1000 starters. The largest contributor to all MEs, by organ system affected, was cardiovascular-related, with an incidence of 1.8 (95% CI: 1.4-2.2), where exercise-associated postural hypotension was the most common specific diagnosis (I = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.7). The incidence of all SLMEs was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.7-1.4) making up 11.7% (41/350) of all MEs. The incidence of SLMEs by organ system was highest in the cardiovascular system (I = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.7), with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (I = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.4) the most common specific diagnosis. There were no sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) nor sudden cardiac arrests (SCA).

CONCLUSION

There was a high proportion of cardiovascular-related medical encounters, as well as SLMEs. We recommend that event organizers and race medical directors investigate prevention strategies to mitigate against risk of SLMEs, specifically acute cardiovascular SLMEs.